Demographic and Histopathological Profile of Sinonasal and Nasopharyngeal Lesions Along with Relevant Immunohistochemical Markers in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Retrospective and Prospective Analysis

Introduction: Sinonasal and nasopharyngeal lesionscomprise a heterogeneous group of conditions ranging from inflammatory polyps to aggressive malignant neoplasms. Their overlapping clinical presentations often necessitate histopathological evaluation for definitive diagnosis. Aim: To evaluate the clinicopathological spectrum of sinonasal and nasopharyngeal lesions in a tertiary care hospital, with emphasis on demographic distribution, clinical presentation, and histopathological categorization. Materials and Methods: This retrospective plus prospective observational study included 317 patients presenting with sinonasal masses. Biopsy and excision specimens were processed using routine histopathological techniques, with special stains and immunohistochemistry applied where necessary. Lesions were classified into non-neoplastic and neoplastic categories. Demographic and clinical data were analyzed, and statistical associations were assessed using the Chi-square test. Results: Of 317 cases, 224 (71%) were non-neoplastic and 93 (29%) were neoplastic. Inflammatory polyps were the most common non-neoplastic lesion (79.02%), while sinonasal papilloma (51.57%) and hemangioma (26.56%) predominated among benign neoplasms. Squamous cell carcinoma was the leading malignant tumor (27.58%). The majority of cases occurred in the 31–40 year age group (22.71%), with a male predominance (59.94%). Age showed a statistically significant association with lesion type (p = 0.0004), whereas gender did not (p = 0.628). Conclusion: Sinonasal and nasopharyngeal lesions are predominantly non-neoplastic, with inflammatory polyps being the most frequent. Benign neoplasms outnumber malignant ones, though squamous cell carcinoma remains the most common malignancy. Histopathological evaluation is indispensable for accurate diagnosis, and regional variations such as higher frequencies of fungal and granulomatous lesions highlight the importance of local epidemiological data in guiding clinical management.