Staging
Staging is a process that tells a doctor if the cancer has spread and if it has, how far. Staging for nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer depends on the location and extent of the tumor, and whether it has invaded any lymph nodes or nearby structures. Staging is an important step in evaluating prognosis and treatment options.
Staging of Maxillary Sinus Cancer
Stage 0
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Description
- “Carcinoma in-situ.” Abnormal, but non-invasive cells found in top layer of tissue, generally considered "pre-cancerous".
Stage I
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Description
- Tumor confined to the membrane lining of the maxillary sinus. Based on the physical examination along with the radiology, the tumor has not caused any bone erosion/destruction.
Stage II
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Description
- Tumor is confined to the maxillary sinus and has caused bone erosion/destruction. It may have spread to the roof of the mouth and/or the middle nasal passage.
Stage III
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Description
- Tumor has grown through the bone of the sinus wall, into the eye socket, the ethmoid sinus (in front of maxillary sinus), or into deep layers of skin. Cancer has not spread to any lymph nodes.
- OR
- Tumor may be any size and may or may not have spread to the previously mentioned areas. Cancer has spread to 1 lymph node on the same side of the neck that is 3 cm or less in diameter.
Stage IVa
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Description
Tumor has spread to the front of the eye socket, the skin of the cheek, the nose bone, or the sphenoid/frontal sinus.
Stage IVb
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Description
- Tumor has spread to the brain, meninges, cranial nerves, eye, nasopharynx, etc. May or may not have spread to the lymph nodes.
- OR
- Tumor may be any size and may have spread to any of the previously mentioned areas. Cancer has spread to a single lymph node that is greater than 6 cm in diameter.
Stage IVc
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Description
- Cancer has spread to distant organs or parts of the body.
Staging of Nasal Cavity & Ethmoid Sinus Cancer
- Stage 0: “Carcinoma in-situ.” Abnormal, but non-invasive cells found in top layer of tissue, generally considered "pre-cancerous".
- Stage I: Tumor confined to the one area where it began (i.e. the specific section of the nasal cavity or the specific ethmoid sinus). Tumor may or may not have spread to the bone.
- Stage II: More extensive involvement of one or two areas in the nasal cavity / ethmoid sinus, may or may not have invaded the bone.
- Stage III:
Tumor has spread to the maxillary sinus, the wall of the eye socket, the hard palate, or the cribiform plate (the structure between the nasal cavity and the bones surrounding the front of the brain).
OR
Cancer has spread to 1 lymph node on the same side that is 3 cm or less in diameter. Tumor may be any size and may have spread to any of these areas.
- Stage IVa: Moderately advanced local disease
Tumor has spread to the front of the eye socket, the skin of the nose or cheek, the front of the skull base, the pterygoid plates, or the sphenoid/frontal sinus.
- Stage IVb: Very advanced local disease
Tumor has spread to the brain, eye, meninges, cranial nerves other than the nasopharynx. Tumor may or may not have spread to the lymph nodes.
OR
Tumor may be any size and may have spread to any of the previously mentioned areas. Cancer has spread to a single lymph node that is greater than 6 cm in diameter.
- Stage IVc: Cancer has spread to distant organs or parts of the body.
