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Malignant tumors of the frontal sinus: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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[ Symptoms of malignant tumors of the frontal sinus
In the initial period, they most often proceed under the guise of chronic pharyngitis, however, with timely trepanopuncture of the frontal sinus and aspiration biopsy, the tumor can be recognized using histological examination. An indirect sign indicating the presence of a tumor in the frontal sinus during trepanopuncture may be blood getting into the needle and syringe instead of the expected pus.
Diagnosis of malignant tumors of the frontal sinus
Diagnosis of malignant tumors of the frontal sinus in the latent period is excluded due to the absence of subjective signs of the disease. Only after obstruction of the frontonasal passage by tumor masses or pressure on the endings of the trigeminal nerve do the corresponding neurological and rhinological symptoms appear and the patient consults an ENT specialist. But even in this case, diagnostic errors may occur due to insufficient oncological alertness of the doctor. Most often, the initial period of malignant tumors of the frontal sinus is marked by a banal inflammatory process.
Malignant tumors of the frontal sinus should be differentiated from mucocele of the frontal sinus, benign tumors, and chronic purulent frontal sinusitis complicated by osteomyelitis of the frontal bone.
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Treatment of malignant tumors of the frontal sinus
Treatment of malignant tumors of the frontal sinus is palliative in most cases.
What is the prognosis for malignant tumors of the frontal sinus?
Malignant tumors of the frontal sinus have a very grave prognosis due to the rapid development of the tumor, intensive extraterritorial growth into neighboring areas, as well as late recognition of this otolaryngological disease. Patients usually die from secondary intracranial complications.