Paranasal sinus angiosarcoma with facial paralysis as a novel manifestation: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND: Paranasal sinus angiosarcoma is an uncommon malignancy, with only a few reported cases worldwide. Although it exhibits multiple symptoms, facial paralysis has not been previously documented as a noticeable presentation. CASE PRESENTATION: In this case, we report a 40-year-old male who presented with facial numbness and pain for one month, weakness of his facial muscles for 15 days, and recurrent right epistaxis for 1 year. He had a history of nasal inflammatory polyps with chronic sinusitis. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed space-occupying lesions in the right nasal cavity and maxillary sinus, with bone destruction occurring in the sinus wall and turbinate. This patient then underwent endoscopic surgery. According to the histopathological and immunohistochemical results, he was eventually diagnosed with paranasal sinus angiosarcoma in April 2021. To date, this patient has not initiated any radiotherapy or chemotherapy and has survived with lymphatic metastasis for at least 3 years. CONCLUSIONS: This manuscript suggests that paranasal sinus angiosarcoma can present with facial paralysis. Moreover, pathological and immunohistochemical tests are still vital for diagnosing paranasal sinus angiosarcoma and differential diagnosis. Additionally, regular follow-up is crucial for patients with paranasal sinus angiosarcoma, enabling monitoring of recurrence, metastasis, and recovery while contributing valuable clinical data to understanding this rare disease and associated research endeavours.