ADENOCARCINOMA OF THE ETHMOID SINUS

Abstract

CANCER in the ethmoid labyrinth is usually bad news to the practicing otolaryngologist. Almost invariably the malignant cells involve vital adjacent structures before a diagnosis can be made. The early symptoms of nasal obstruction and postnasal discharge can be easily attributed to benign involvements of the nose. Although pain is present in many cases, it is rarely sharp or distinctive until the later stages, and is localized usually in the area of the nasal processes of the frontal bones. It should be remembered that carcinoma of the ethmoid sinuses often spreads rapidly, extending directly to contiguous sinuses, and that the exact point of origin cannot, therefore, always be determined. Ringertz 1 pointed out that in 30 per cent of all cases of ethmoid carcinoma (55 per cent of the cylindric cell type) the disease is associated with polyposis of the nose. One can readily see, therefore, that neglect can easily