Tumors

Abstract

Inverted papillomas generally arise from the lateral nasal wall. They are unilateral masses. In 15% of cases there may be malignant transformation. The tumor should be excised completely and sent for histological examination for malignant transformation. Endoscopic removal is the treatment of choice. Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma usually arises superior and posterior to the sphenopalatine foramen. It only occurs in male adolescents. These patients present with the complaint of nasal obstruction and bleeding. Fibrous dysplasia is a fibro-osseous disease of the facial skeleton. It usually appears during the first two decades of life. On CT scans a ground glass presentation due to a mixture of fibrous and osseous components is characteristic of this tumor. If it does not cause any deformity or functional disorder, no surgery is required. Osteomas are common benign tumors of the sinuses. They occur most frequently in the frontoethmoid region. Malignant melanoma of the sinonasal tract comprises 1–2% of all melanomas. A pigmented polyp may be a malignant melanoma. A unilateral mass in the nose that bleeds spontaneously should raise the suspicion of malignancy. Esthesioneuroblastoma is an uncommon tumor that arises in the olfactory epithelium. These tumors very often invade the cranium. To show the intracranial extension, MR imaging is necessary.