Causes, Risk Factors, and Prevention of Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Cancers

Learn about the causes and risk factors for nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancers and what you can do to help lower your risk.

What causes nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancers?

We don’t know exactly what causes each case of nasal cavity or paranasal sinus cancer. But we do know some of the risk factors for these cancers and how some of them cause normal cells to become cancerous.

Researchers have made great progress in understanding how certain gene changes (mutations) can cause normal cells to become cancerous. For example, some genes contain instructions for controlling when our cells grow and divide. Changes in these genes can lead to the development of cancer. To learn more, see Genes and Cancer.

Gene changes in nasal cavity or paranasal sinus cancer

Changes in many different genes are usually needed to cause nasal cavity or paranasal sinus cancer. Different types of cancer can start in these areas, and not all these cancers have the same gene changes.

Gene changes that lead to cancer can either be acquired during a person’s life or inherited from a parent.

Acquired gene mutations

Gene changes related to nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancers usually develop during life rather than being inherited.

Sometimes acquired mutations are the result of exposure to cancer-causing chemicals, such as those found in the workplace or in tobacco smoke. But sometimes acquired mutations just randomly happen inside a cell, without an outside cause.

Inherited gene mutations

Some people inherit gene changes that increase their risk of developing certain cancers from their parents. Inherited gene changes are not believed to cause very many cancers of the nasal cavity or paranasal sinuses.

Risk factors for nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancers

A risk factor is anything that increases your chances of getting a disease like cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors. Some risk factors, like smoking, can be changed. Others, like your age or family history, can’t be changed.

Having a risk factor, or even many, does not mean that you will get the disease. And some people with these cancers may have few or no known risk factors.

Most of the known risk factors for nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer are exposures to inhaled substances in the workplace. Other risk factors are similar to those for other head and neck cancers, such as smoking.

Can nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancers be prevented?

Most people with nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancers have no known risk factors, so there is no way to prevent most of these cancers. But there are some things you can do to help lower your risk.

Avoid workplace chemicals and dust

One of the main risk factors for these cancers is exposure to certain types of chemicals and dust in the workplace. If you work with any of these substances, it’s important to make sure you’re adequately protected from harmful exposure.

Avoid smoking

Smoking is another risk factor for cancers of the nasal cavity and sinuses that you can avoid to help lower your risk of these cancers.

If you or someone you know would like to quit smoking and need help, call us at 1-800-227-2345 or see Stay Away from Tobacco.