[Analysis of 60 masses in the nasal vestibule]

To summarize the treatment strategy of nasal vestibule masses.

Between May, 1982 and April,2003,60 patients with nasal vestibule mass were treated in our department. The clinical features of these masses were retrospectively analysed.

Among 60 masses, 51 cases were benign tumors, 5 cases were inflammatory masses, and 4 cases were malignant tumors. All patients were surgically treated and discharged with complete recovery. Among patients with benign tumor and non-specific inflammatory mass, 37 patients with a median follow-up of 97 months without recurrence and malignant change. One patient with hidradenoma and one patient with rhinoscleroma recurred and another surgery was carried out. There was no recurrence after second surgery. 6 patients died of other diseases, and 11 patients lost follow-up. Two patients with malignant melanoma recurred after first surgery. Then the tumor was removed via lateral rhinotomy and died of local recurrence and liver metastasis. Two patients (one with papilloma carcinomatous change and another with non-Hodgkin lymphoma) were free of diseases 17 years or 5 years and 2 months respectively.

Masses of different histological types can be found in the nasal vestibule. Surgical removal is the treatment of choice. The approaches are determined on the basis of site, size and kind of the masses.