Hyderabad's Dedicated Nasal & Sinonasal Cancer Panel — AIIMS-Led Head & Neck Surgery

Nasal and sinonasal cancers are rare and anatomically complex — close to brain, eyes, and skull base. The best doctor is one with specific head and neck oncology training and access to a coordinated team including neurosurgery and ophthalmology where needed. For surgery, look for a head and neck surgical oncologist (not a general ENT or rhinologist alone). For radiation, look for a radiation oncologist with IMRT experience for skull-base-adjacent targets. At CION, every nasal cancer case is reviewed by a multidisciplinary tumour board, with surgery led by Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty (MS Surgery, AIIMS).

An ENT specialist is often the first doctor to evaluate persistent nasal symptoms — but for confirmed cancer, treatment must be led by oncology. A head and neck surgical oncologist with cancer-specific training should lead the surgical plan, with neurosurgery and ophthalmology joining where anatomical involvement requires them. A general ENT alone is not the right specialist for sinonasal cancer surgery.

It depends on the tumour location and how it has spread. Modern surgical approach for many sinonasal cancers is endoscopic endonasal — done through the nostril without external facial incisions, preserving appearance and often function. When tumours involve the orbit (eye socket), orbital-sparing surgery is now possible for many cases that would previously have required eye removal — but only at centres with the specific expertise. Sense of smell may be affected depending on whether the olfactory cleft is involved. At CION, the surgical plan is discussed in detail at the first consultation, including the expected functional and aesthetic outcomes.

This is one of the most important questions in sinonasal cancer care. Tumours close to the skull base, brain, or orbit require coordination between head and neck surgical oncology, neurosurgery, and ophthalmology — not a single doctor working alone. At CION, multidisciplinary planning is built into the pathway from the first consultation, with neurosurgery and ophthalmology coordinated through partner specialists where the anatomy requires it. If your tumour is described as 'close to brain' or 'involving orbit', you should specifically ask any centre how they coordinate these specialties.

Sinonasal cancers commonly cause diagnostic delay because early symptoms — nasal blockage, nosebleeds, sinus pressure, postnasal drip — are identical to common conditions like sinusitis, deviated septum, or allergic rhinitis. Many patients are treated with antibiotics or steroids for months before imaging is ordered. Suspicion is raised when symptoms are persistent (more than 4–6 weeks), unilateral (one-sided), or accompanied by bleeding, facial swelling, eye symptoms, or numbness. This delay is not unusual — what matters now is making sure your treatment is led by specialists with cancer-specific expertise.

Endoscopic endonasal surgery is performed through the nostrils using a thin endoscope and specialised instruments — no external facial incisions. For many sinonasal cancers, this approach offers oncologic outcomes equivalent to open surgery with significantly better cosmetic and functional results, faster recovery, and shorter hospital stays. Not every tumour is suitable for endoscopic approach — but the decision should be made by a team with both endoscopic and open surgical expertise, not by default to whatever the local centre is comfortable with.

Yes — radiation plays a central role in most sinonasal cancers. Post-operative radiation is given for most tumours larger than T1, with positive margins, or with lymph node involvement. Definitive chemoradiation is used for unresectable tumours or sites where surgery would cause unacceptable function loss. IMRT (intensity-modulated radiation therapy) is the standard technique because it allows precise targeting while sparing the eyes, optic nerves, brain, and salivary glands. CION delivers IMRT planning across all head and neck cases.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a distinct cancer arising at the back of the nasal cavity (the nasopharynx). Unlike most other sinonasal cancers, NPC is treated primarily with chemoradiation rather than surgery, because the location makes surgical access difficult and because it is highly radiosensitive. NPC is also strongly associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and EBV DNA blood testing is used to monitor response and detect recurrence. CION's tumour board pathway distinguishes NPC from other sinonasal cancers and follows the NPC-specific protocols.

A second opinion is especially valuable before sinonasal cancer surgery — both because endoscopic vs open surgical decisions vary across centres, and because orbital and skull base coordination is highly variable. At CION the second opinion is free, written, and yours to keep — our multidisciplinary tumour board reviews your imaging, biopsy, and existing recommendation and provides a documented opinion you can take anywhere.

Yes. When booking your consultation, request a specific doctor by name. For head and neck surgical oncology specifically, Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty (MS Surgery, AIIMS) leads our pathway. We confirm availability and arrange the appointment. Your chosen doctor becomes your named lead specialist for the duration of your care, while other panel specialists join for their part of the journey through the tumour board.