How effective is tumour removal surgery for nasal and sinus cancer?

Nasal and sinus tumours sit close to the eyes, skull base, nerves and teeth. Surgeons use scans and examination findings to map the tumour and choose an approach, which may be through the nose, through the face, or a combination. The removed tissue is examined to assess margins and tumour characteristics.

If cancer has reached nearby structures or lymph nodes, surgery may be more extensive and may require reconstruction. Radiotherapy or other oncology treatment can be recommended before or after surgery. Effectiveness is judged through pathology, healing and follow-up imaging rather than by the operation alone.

Ask which sinus or nasal structure is involved, whether the eye, skull base, palate or teeth are near the planned margin, and how the team will protect function. Discuss nasal care, facial appearance, vision, smell, breathing, dental effects and reconstruction before consenting.

Keep a written list of medicines and tell the team about allergies, previous nasal surgery and bleeding problems. Confirm how pathology results will change the next step and who will arrange imaging and specialist follow-up. Read more about [Tumour Removal Surgery](/treatments/surgical-oncology/tumour-removal-surgery/).

Following surgery, seek urgent help for heavy or persistent bleeding, breathing difficulty, sudden vision change, severe headache, clear fluid draining from the nose, marked facial swelling or new weakness. Contact the team for fever, worsening pain, foul drainage, increasing redness or inability to drink.

Which structures are involved, and what margin is intended? Is an endoscopic or open approach suitable? Could my eye, vision, teeth, palate, smell or breathing be affected? Will reconstruction be needed? What findings would lead to radiotherapy or another treatment?