^

Health

A
A
A

Malignant tumors of the lattice bone: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
 
Fact-checked
х

All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.

We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.

If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.

In the vast majority of cases, malignant tumors of the ethmoid bone are undifferentiated epitheliomas and originate from one part of the ethmoid labyrinth. These tumors metastasize to distant bones and lungs. Sarcomas are rare in this area. At the first stage of development, the tumor first fills the entire cellular space of the ethmoid bone, destroying the intercellular septa, then spreads to the nasal cavity, other paranasal sinuses and the orbit. In the latent stage, these tumors practically do not reveal themselves in any way and it is impossible to obtain convincing radiographic data indicating their presence. If we add to this that at this stage it does not manifest itself with any symptoms, then it becomes obvious why malignant tumors of the ethmoid bone are almost never recognized in the latent period. Being small in size, these tumors are not as radiopaque as, for example, tumors of the upper jaw, therefore, even if any clinical signs appear, they are often mistaken for banal ethmoiditis, often chronic polypous ethmoiditis, especially in the presence of "accompanying polyps". Removal of polyps and endonasal opening of the ethmoid labyrinth with scraping of the anterior cells does not bring improvement; on the contrary, polyps quickly recur and with them - tumor tissue.

More profuse bleeding during ethmoidectomy in these cases often does not attract attention, since in banal inflammatory processes this surgical intervention often also causes significant bleeding. But the difference between the latter and the "cancerous" one is that in a banal inflammatory process, bleeding after surgery quickly stops, and in the case of a malignant tumor, even after "radical" curettage of the ethmoid labyrinth, bleeding does not stop for a long time and posterior nasal tamponade is often required. Another distinctive sign that should alert the surgeon to the presence of a malignant tumor in the ethmoid labyrinth is that in banal ethmoiditis, in which the bulk of the trabeculae is preserved and a characteristic crunch is heard when scraping out the cells, in the case of a malignant tumor, the spoon freely penetrates the cavity affected by the tumor, filled with an easily destroyed mass.

trusted-source[ 1 ], [ 2 ]

Symptoms of malignant tumors of the ethmoid bone

If the tumor reaches a significant size and extends beyond the ethmoid labyrinth, then pronounced subjective and objective symptoms of malignant tumors of the ethmoid bone appear, manifested by the syndrome of malignant damage to the nasal cavity and surrounding tissues. At this stage, radiological signs of tumor damage to the ethmoid bone are also revealed, which consist of intense one-sided shadowing of the rhinoethmoidal region and damage to the integrity of the bone walls of the adjacent sinuses and orbit.

Diagnosis of malignant tumors of the ethmoid bone

Differential diagnosis of malignant tumors of the ethmoid bone is carried out with tumors of the pituitary gland, juvenile angiofibroma of the nasopharynx, specific granulomas, and chronic caseous sphenoiditis.

trusted-source[ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ]

What do need to examine?

Treatment of malignant tumors of the ethmoid bone

Treatment of malignant tumors of the ethmoid bone is combined, as with suprastructural tumors of the maxillary sinus, and is mainly only palliative.

What is the prognosis for malignant ethmoid tumors?

Malignant tumors of the ethmoid bone, due to late tumor recognition, usually have an unfavorable prognosis, especially with the destruction of the ethmoid plate and tumor penetration into the anterior cranial fossa, and with penetration into the retrobulbar region - into the middle cranial fossa.

You are reporting a typo in the following text:
Simply click the "Send typo report" button to complete the report. You can also include a comment.