A risk factor is anything that changes a person's chance of getting a disease such as cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors. For example, unprotected exposure to strong sunlight is a risk factor for skin cancer. Also, smoking is a risk factor for many different kinds of cancers.

Although researchers have found several risk factors that make a person more likely to develop nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer, many people with these cancers have no known risk factors. Even if a patient has one or more risk factors, it is difficult to know whether that factor actually caused the cancer.

Occupational exposures

Scientists have found that people who work in certain jobs are more likely to develop nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer. The increased risk seems to be related to breathing in certain substances while at work, such as:

• dusts from wood, textiles, and leather and even perhaps flour
• glues
• formaldehyde
• solvents used in furniture and shoe production
• nickel and chromium dust
• mustard gas
• radium

Smoking

Smoking increases the risk of nasal cavity cancer.

Family history

Most people with nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer do not have any relatives with this disease. Family history does not seem to be a risk factor for these cancers.

Retinoblastoma

People with the inherited form of a certain type of eye cancer, retinoblastoma, have an increased risk of nasal cavity cancer. The increase in nasal cavity cancer was only seen in those who had their retinoblastoma treated with radiation.