Surreal illustration of nasal cancer risks influenced by occupation and smoking.

Nasal Cancer Trends: What You Need to Know About Declining Risks & Rising Concerns

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Rhea Morgan in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"A long-term study in the Netherlands reveals how occupational safety and smoking habits are reshaping the landscape of sinonasal cancers, especially among women."


Sinonasal cancers, rare tumors located in the nasal cavity and sinuses, present unique challenges in epidemiology and treatment. Given their rarity (incidence <1 per 100,000 people), understanding the trends in occurrence, mortality, and treatment is crucial.

Of particular interest is adenocarcinoma, a type of sinonasal cancer strongly linked to long-term exposure to wood or leather dust. Recognizing this connection, industries have implemented preventive measures, yet the impact of these changes, along with other factors, on cancer incidence remains an area of ongoing research.

This article will explore the long-term trends of sinonasal cancer in The Netherlands, focusing on adenocarcinoma and examining how factors like occupational exposure and smoking habits are influencing the changing patterns of this rare disease. Understanding these trends is crucial for informing prevention efforts and improving outcomes.

Declining Risks for Men, Rising Concerns for Women: Key Findings

Surreal illustration of nasal cancer risks influenced by occupation and smoking.

A comprehensive study in the Netherlands, tracking 4345 patients from 1989 to 2014, reveals significant shifts in the landscape of sinonasal cancer:

The study found that squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) accounted for 47% of cases, followed by lymphoma and adenocarcinoma at 12% each. Most tumors were located in the nasal cavity (61%), followed by the maxillary sinus (22%) and ethmoidal sinus (11%).

  • Decreasing Incidence in Men: The incidence of sinonasal cancer in men has decreased to 11.5 per 1,000,000, primarily due to a decline in both SCC and adenocarcinoma cases. Specifically, adenocarcinoma saw a significant decrease (EAPC -4.3%).
  • Increasing Incidence in Women: Conversely, the incidence in women has risen to 7 per 1,000,000 (EAPC +2.0%), largely driven by an increase in SCC. Adenocarcinoma incidence in women remained stable.
  • Nasal Cavity Tumors on the Rise in Women: Tumors located in the nasal cavity significantly increased in women (EAPC +3.3%).
These trends suggest that preventive measures in high-risk occupations may be contributing to the decline in male adenocarcinoma cases. Meanwhile, the rise in SCC among women raises questions about lifestyle factors, particularly smoking habits.

Implications and Future Directions

The study underscores the evolving nature of sinonasal cancer and highlights the impact of both occupational and lifestyle factors. The decrease in male adenocarcinoma suggests that workplace safety measures are indeed effective, while the rise in female SCC emphasizes the need for targeted interventions related to smoking.

As the researchers note, the increasing incidence of female nasal cavity tumors may also be linked to changing smoking habits in the Netherlands, with fewer male and more female smokers. Further research is needed to fully understand these relationships.

Looking ahead, continued monitoring of sinonasal cancer trends, along with further investigation into the role of smoking and other risk factors, is crucial for optimizing prevention strategies and improving outcomes for both men and women. Given the complexity of these cancers, the centralization of care remains a key consideration.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1002/hed.25374, Alternate LINK

Title: Sinonasal Cancer In The Netherlands: Follow-Up Of A Population-Based Study 1989-2014 And Incidence Of Occupation-Related Adenocarcinoma

Subject: Otorhinolaryngology

Journal: Head & Neck

Publisher: Wiley

Authors: J. Hans L. P. Kuijpens, Marieke W. J. Louwman, Robert Takes, Piet J. Slootweg, Alex Burdorf, Boukje A. C. Van Dijk

Published: 2018-10-15

Everything You Need To Know

1

What are sinonasal cancers?

Sinonasal cancers are rare tumors found in the nasal cavity and sinuses. They present unique challenges in both epidemiology and treatment due to their low incidence rate. The article emphasizes the importance of understanding the trends in occurrence, mortality, and treatment of these cancers to inform prevention efforts and improve outcomes for patients. This includes understanding the different types of cancers, such as adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

2

What are the key findings regarding sinonasal cancer trends?

The study found significant shifts in the landscape of sinonasal cancer. In men, the incidence of sinonasal cancer has decreased, particularly for adenocarcinoma, which saw a significant decrease. This decline is likely due to workplace safety measures in high-risk occupations. However, the incidence in women has risen, primarily due to an increase in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Tumors located in the nasal cavity significantly increased in women. The changing patterns highlight the impact of both occupational and lifestyle factors on sinonasal cancer trends.

3

What is the significance of adenocarcinoma in this context?

Adenocarcinoma, a specific type of sinonasal cancer, is strongly linked to long-term exposure to wood or leather dust. The article notes that industries have implemented preventive measures to address this, which appear to be contributing to the decline in adenocarcinoma cases among men. The study highlights the effectiveness of these workplace safety measures in reducing the risk of this specific type of cancer.

4

What are the implications of the increase in SCC among women?

The rise in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cases among women, particularly in the nasal cavity, raises questions about the influence of lifestyle factors, especially smoking habits. The study suggests a need for targeted interventions related to smoking to address the increasing incidence of SCC in women. This is in contrast to the men, where the workplace safety is having a positive impact on cancer reduction.

5

What does this study suggest for the future?

The findings underscore the importance of ongoing research into sinonasal cancers, particularly in understanding the roles of occupational exposure and lifestyle factors. The study emphasizes the need for prevention efforts that are tailored to specific populations, such as workplace safety measures for men and interventions related to smoking for women. Future directions include a deeper dive into the cause of the increase in SCC in women, and further validation of the success of workplace safety measures for men with adenocarcinoma.

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