Section Editor: Jason Wasserman MD PhD FRCPC
May 23, 2026
The nasal cavity is the large air-filled space behind the nose. The paranasal sinuses are smaller air-filled spaces in the bones of the face that connect to the nasal cavity. Doctors often refer to this whole area as the sinonasal tract. When tissue is removed from this area, a pathologist examines it under a microscope and describes what they see in your pathology report.
This page brings together our guides to conditions found in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. The articles are grouped by type to help you find the one that matches your diagnosis. Some conditions are cancerous and many others are not. Select any article below to learn more.
Cancerous tumors
These diagnoses are cancers that start in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Many different types can develop here, including squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and others. The articles explain how each cancer is diagnosed and what your pathology report describes.
Keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma
Keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma is a common type of cancer in the nasal cavity and sinuses. The cancer cells produce keratin, a tough protein. This article explains how it is diagnosed and what your report describes.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma, sometimes shortened to KSCC.
Non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma
Non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma is a type of cancer in the nasal cavity and sinuses in which the cells do not produce keratin. This article explains what this diagnosis means and what your report describes.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma, sometimes shortened to NKSCC.
HPV associated squamous cell carcinoma
HPV associated squamous cell carcinoma is a cancer of the nasal cavity and sinuses caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). This article explains how it is identified and what your report describes.
You may find this helpful if your report links your cancer to HPV or mentions p16 testing.
HPV related multiphenotypic sinonasal carcinoma
HPV related multiphenotypic sinonasal carcinoma is a rare cancer linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV). It has features of more than one tumor type, which is what “multiphenotypic” means. This article explains what this diagnosis means.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions HPV related multiphenotypic sinonasal carcinoma.
Intestinal-type sinonasal adenocarcinoma
Intestinal-type sinonasal adenocarcinoma is a cancer that starts in gland-forming cells and looks like cancer of the intestine under the microscope. This article explains what this diagnosis means and what your report describes.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions intestinal-type adenocarcinoma, or you have had workplace exposure to wood or leather dust.
Non-intestinal-type sinonasal adenocarcinoma
Non-intestinal-type sinonasal adenocarcinoma is a cancer that starts in gland-forming cells but does not look like cancer of the intestine. This article explains what this diagnosis means and what your report describes.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions non-intestinal-type sinonasal adenocarcinoma.
Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma
Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma is a rare, fast-growing cancer of the nasal cavity and sinuses. The cancer cells look very abnormal and do not resemble any normal cell type. This article explains what this diagnosis means.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma, sometimes shortened to SNUC.
SMARCB1-deficient sinonasal carcinoma
SMARCB1-deficient sinonasal carcinoma is a rare cancer defined by the loss of a gene called SMARCB1. This article explains how it is identified and what your pathology report describes.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions SMARCB1, INI-1 loss, or a SMARCB1-deficient carcinoma.
NUT carcinoma is a rare, fast-growing cancer defined by a change in a gene called NUTM1. This article explains how it is diagnosed and what your pathology report describes.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions NUT carcinoma or a NUTM1 gene change.
Olfactory neuroblastoma is a cancer that develops from the nerve cells responsible for the sense of smell. This article explains how it is diagnosed and what your pathology report describes.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions olfactory neuroblastoma or esthesioneuroblastoma.
A neuroendocrine tumor of the nasal cavity and sinuses develops from specialized hormone-producing cells. This article explains what this diagnosis means and what your pathology report describes.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions a neuroendocrine tumor or neuroendocrine carcinoma of the sinonasal tract.
Mucosal melanoma is a cancer that develops from pigment-producing cells in the lining of the nasal cavity and sinuses. This article explains how it is diagnosed and what your pathology report describes.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions mucosal melanoma or a dark-colored growth in the nose or sinuses.
Extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma is a cancer of immune cells that often involves the nasal cavity. This article explains how it is diagnosed and what your pathology report describes.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions NK/T cell lymphoma, or a lymphoma involving the nose or sinuses.
Noncancerous growths
These diagnoses are not cancer. They are noncancerous growths that may still be treated, depending on their size, location, and the symptoms they cause.
A sinonasal papilloma is a noncancerous growth that develops from the lining of the nasal cavity and sinuses. This article gives an overview of these growths and what your pathology report describes.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions a sinonasal papilloma or a wart-like growth in the nose.
A Schneiderian papilloma is a noncancerous growth that develops from the special lining of the nasal cavity and sinuses, known as the Schneiderian membrane. This article explains what this diagnosis means.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions a Schneiderian papilloma, including the inverted, oncocytic, or exophytic types.
A sinonasal angiofibroma is a noncancerous tumor made of blood vessels and fibrous tissue. It occurs most often in adolescent boys and young men. This article explains what this diagnosis means and how it is treated.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions a sinonasal or nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, or a growth in the nose that bleeds easily.
A glomangiopericytoma is an uncommon tumor of the nasal cavity made of cells that surround small blood vessels. It is usually not cancerous, but it can come back after treatment, so follow-up is important. This article explains what this diagnosis means.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions a glomangiopericytoma or sinonasal-type hemangiopericytoma.
A pyogenic granuloma is a harmless growth made of small blood vessels. It can form in the nose after injury or irritation and often bleeds easily. This article explains what this diagnosis means.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions a pyogenic granuloma or lobular capillary hemangioma.
A seromucinous hamartoma is a harmless overgrowth of normal glands in the lining of the nasal cavity. This article explains what this diagnosis means and why it is not cancer.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions a seromucinous hamartoma of the nasal cavity.
Inflammatory and infectious conditions
These diagnoses describe inflammation or infection in the lining of the nasal cavity and sinuses. They are not cancer, although a sample is sometimes taken to confirm the cause.
Chronic rhinosinusitis is long-lasting inflammation of the lining of the nasal cavity and sinuses. This article explains what this diagnosis means and what a pathologist looks for.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions chronic rhinosinusitis, or you have had long-lasting sinus congestion or infections.
A sinonasal inflammatory polyp is a harmless, swollen growth that forms in the lining of the nose or sinuses, usually because of long-lasting inflammation. This article explains what this diagnosis means.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions a sinonasal inflammatory polyp or a nasal polyp.
A mycetoma is a clump of fungus that builds up inside a sinus. It is not cancer and usually does not invade the surrounding tissue. This article explains what this diagnosis means and how it is treated.
You may find this helpful if your report mentions a mycetoma, a fungal ball, or a fungal infection of the sinuses.
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