Tumours of the nose and maxillary sinus. Ten year survey from Kenya

Between 1976-1985, 127 cases of malignant tumours of the nose and maxillary sinus were seen at the Department of Human Pathology, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. Cancer of the nose and maxillary sinus was a common diagnosis accounting for 0.8 per cent of all malignancies. Despite this, the incidence was low probably because the rural Kenyans have difficulty in gaining access to the oncology facilities in Nairobi. Incidence rates standardized to world population per 100,000 persons-years were 0.16 for males and 0.12 for females. Clinical information showed that malignancy should be expected in patients with swelling of the cheek and involvement of the orbit. Compared with Denmark the proportion of undifferentiated carcinomas was significantly higher in Kenya. The well known fact that anaplastic carcinoma of the postnasal space is causally associated with the Epstein Barr virus makes it tempting to suggest that anaplastic carcinoma of the nose and maxillary sinus may also be of viral aetiology.