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Benign sinonasal tumours are relatively common, with an overall incidence of 3–5 %. These tumours may be divided into fibro-osseous lesions and soft tissue tumours. Many of them are asymptomatic and are discovered incidentally on imaging studies or nasal endoscopy; for example, osteomas present as an incidental finding in up to 1 % of plain sinus radiographs, and in 3 % of sinus computerized tomograms (CTs) [1, 2]. Other tumours may cause symptoms, such as nasal obstruction, epistaxis, deformation and orbit-related problems. Soft tissue tumours will usually require biopsy and surgical resection, whereas fibro-osseous lesions may be followed radiologically if they are not associated with symptoms or signs. The indication for surgical treatment should be based on pathological findings and symptoms; this should be weighed against the adverse effects of treatment. Many of these tumours can be removed endoscopically, while others may require open approaches. In this chapter, we review the major histological types of benign sinonasal tumours, as well as their clinical presentation and management (Box 3.1). The radiological features of each tumour are further discussed in Chap. 5.

Malignant tumours of the paranasal sinuses and skull base are relatively rare (~3 % of all malignant tumours of the head and neck) [1]. The salient features of such tumours are male predominance, increased incidence among Caucasians, and an age of over 50 years of most of the patients at the time of diagnosis [2]. Tumours located in the anterior skull base may be of epithelial, neuronal or mesenchymal origin. Lymphomas and plasmocytomas are relatively rare in this area.