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The management of cancer of the nasal sinuses
Author(s) -
Myerson Mervin C.
Publication year - 1938
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-193809000-00001
Subject(s) - medicine , paranasal sinuses , cancer , sinus (botany) , malignancy , maxillary sinus , nasal cavity , antrum , general surgery , surgery , pathology , stomach , botany , biology , genus
Cancer of the paranasal sinuses is not frequently encountered in otolaryngological practice. These tumors constitute less than 1 per cent of the cases seen at the Brooklyn Cancer Institute. During 1937, there were five malignant tumors of the sinuses among 737 admissions. Most of these cases are seen when the disease is far advanced and therefore present special problems. Fear, ignorance and the unfortunate circumstance of the absence of symptoms are factors in the late appearance of these patients for treatment. Fortunately, in many cases, a late diagnosis does not mean a hopeless prognosis. These neoplasms are usually out of sight and are frequently painless. When pain occurs it may be referred to the alveolar process, suggesting a dental condition, or it may be referred to the cheek, suggesting an antrum suppuration. Irrigation of the antrum may be negative or may reveal the presence of pus. When blood or sanguineous material are returned with the irrigation, the diagnosis is fairly certain. If a malignancy of the antrum is suspected because of the symptoms or because of the Roentgen findings, the interior of the sinus should be examined by means of an exploratory opening.