Treatment Options for Maxillary Sinus Cancer

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. George Hatzigiannis has led an independent practice in Boston since 2007. Dr. George Hatzigiannis comes to this role with an in-depth knowledge of treatment options for cancer of the maxilla and nearby structures, such as the maxillary sinuses. 

If cancer cells have begun to develop in the tissue that covers the maxillary sinus, located inside of the cheekbones on each side of the nose, physicians may classify the situation as a stage 0 cancer. Also known as carcinoma in situ or pre-cancer, this diagnosis indicates the potential for, but not the presence of, a cancer situation.

If the cancer begins to grow, it starts within that initial origin point of the maxillary sinus. This is known as stage 1 cancer, which means that the cancer has not yet spread to other nearby tissues. Once the cancer begins to invade the sinus floor or bony tissue that covers the sinus opening, but has not yet invaded the back of the sinus or elsewhere, the diagnosis is stage 2 cancer.

Most patients with stage 1 or stage 2 maxillary sinus cancer undergo surgery and often radiation to attempt to remove the tumor. This is also a likely treatment plan for a patient with stage 3 maxillary sinus cancer, which has begun to grow into the sinus bones or an adjacent lymph node. Patients with this stage of cancer may receive chemotherapy as well. 

If the cancer has spread to more than one lymph node and caused one node or more to grow bigger than 3 centimeters, or if the tumor has spread into adjacent structures such as the eye, skull, or frontal sinuses, the cancer is stage 4. This stage is also diagnosed if the tumor is classified as T4 for size or has metastasized to other body systems. Patients with this stage of cancer may still undergo surgery if the tumor is removable by such a technique, though some stage 4 cancers have progressed beyond this point and may instead call for radiation and/or chemo as a primary mode of treatment.

Uses of Dental Bone Grafting

For over a decade, Dr. George Hatzigiannis has served as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Throughout his career, Dr. George Hatzigiannis has performed many bone grafting procedures.

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon may perform bone grafting for patients who have experienced jawbone deterioration. Bone loss inevitably occurs following the loss of a tooth, as the tooth root protects the structural integrity of the jawbone. When a tooth is removed and not replaced, a patient could lose up to 25 percent of bone width within the first year following tooth loss.

For this reason, many patients receive a bone graft immediately following an extraction, so as to prevent future bone loss. Others receive a graft before dental implant surgery if their jawbone cannot support the implant post. This may occur because the patient does not have sufficient bone tissue, although it may also be due to a loss of density in the bone and a resulting softness that cannot stand up to the weight of the implant.

Bone grafting not only boosts the success of these procedures, but it also improves the overall appearance of the face. Bone provides the structural integrity that keeps the face from collapsing, which can lead to a prematurely aged appearance. An intact bone can maintain the look of the face and, in turn, help a patient to feel more confident.

What to Expect after a Bone Grafting Procedure

For more than a decade, Dr. George Hatzigiannis has served as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Massachusetts. Currently in private practice, Dr. George Hatzigiannis is experienced in a variety of dental procedures, including bone grafting, a topic on which he has given several lectures.

Following a bone grafting procedure, patients should avoid eating or drinking for at least an hour. For about 4-6 weeks following the grafting procedure (unless it was for a single tooth only), patients should minimize any chewing on the side where the bone graft was placed, and should avoid foods that break into sharp pieces, such as chips and popcorn. 

There is typically some discomfort following a grafting procedure, and most of it is a result of local swelling. While prescribed pain medicine, along with ibuprofen (as long as there are no allergies), can help with the discomfort, the most effective management is to minimize swelling. Keep your head elevated as much as possible during the day, and sleep on an extra 2-3 pillows in the evening for the first three days. Ice packs for the first 24 hours (20 minutes per hour) are also helpful. Dr. Hatzigiannis may also have prescribed a medication specifically designed to reduce swelling.

What is TMD and How Does it Differ from TMJ?

Award-winning oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. George Hatzigiannis previously practiced at Small Smiles Dental Centers and at a Massachusetts private practice. A graduate of Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Dr. George Hatzigiannis completed a six-year OMFS residency at UConn Health Center and is an expert in conditions such as temporomandibular disorder (TMD).

TMD refers to a dysfunction with the temporomandibular joint and the muscles that surround it. This can be caused by a variety of issues ranging from jaw injuries to arthritis to teeth clenching to autoimmune diseases. Symptoms of these include pain around the ear or pain in the jaw or neck. Other symptoms of TMD include popping in the jaw joint when the mouth is opened or closed, chronic headaches, and discomfort while chewing and swelling.

Despite TMD’s commonality, many confuse this condition with TMJ. This is technically incorrect. TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint that allows people to talk, chew, and move their mouths, instead of a type of condition. The symptoms that most people attribute to TMJ are actually symptoms of TMD, and thus, it is more accurate to refer to such problems either as TMD or as TMJ disorders.