Squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal vestibule

From 1978 to 1992, 66 patients (32 women and 34 men) were treated for carcinoma of the nasal vestibule at Odense University Hospital. The treatment was radiotherapy (41 patients), surgery (13 patients) or a combination of the two modalities (12 patients). Twenty-one patients (32%) developed recurrence. Of these, 17 (81%) were diagnosed within the first two years of follow up. The recurrence rate was found to be correlated to the anatomic site of the tumour-origin; septal site of origin meant higher risk of recurrence. Five-year disease specific and crude survival of all patients were 87.0% and 58.5%, respectively. Several variables (sex, age, anatomic site of origin, Wang-classification, tumour volume and regional lymphnode metastases at time of diagnosis) were evaluated as possible prognostic indicators. In univariate analysis, regional lymph node metastases at the time of diagnosis and anatomic site of origin of the tumour showed a significant influence on survival. In multivariate analysis, septal origin of primary tumour was a significant, independent predictive factor of recurrence and the presence of lymph node metastases at the time of diagnosis showed to be a highly significant prognosticator of both disease specific and crude survival (p < 0.0001). We conclude that patients with primary lymph node metastases and septal location of primary tumour need intensive primary treatment and close follow up.