MASSES OF NASAL CAVITY, PARANASAL SINUSES AND NASOPHARYNX: A CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY

An analysis of clinicopathological features of 240 cases presenting as mass in nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses and nasopharynx observed, both retrospectively and prospectively, over a period of 5 years in Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College. Aligarh. The incidence of masses in nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses and nasopharynx was 34.3 cases per year. Amongst the 240 cases studied, there were 144 cases (60%) of non-neoplastic lesions, 56 cases (23.33%) of benign lesions and 40 cases (16.67%) of malignant lesions. All age groups were involved and the mean age of presentation with the increasing age were: - non-neoplastic (22.5 years), benign tumors (26.8 years) and malignant tumors (35.3 years). The male to female ratio was 1.7:1 for non-neoplastic lesions; 3:1 for benign tumors: and 2.3:1 for malignant lesions. In this study maximum number of cases were present in nasal cavity (65%) followed by paranasal sinuses (20%) and least number of cases involved the nasopharynx (15%). The relative number of non-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions varies from region to region. A provisional diagnosis was made after clinical assessment and radiological investigation but final diagnosis was made after histopathological examination.