Squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal vestibule

We reviewed 30 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal vestibule to present our experience of their management and to evaluate the prognostic factors that may influence their outcome. For T1 lesions radiotherapy remains the treatment of choice, because of the superior cosmetic result. Fifteen (68 per cent) out of 22 patients with T2 lesions were treated with primary radiotherapy. Surgery however, was eventually required in 16 (72 per cent) out of 22 patients, either as a primary treatment (seven patients) or as salvage surgery (nine patients). For the larger T3 lesions the treatment of choice is surgery followed by post-operative radiotherapy where appropriate. Regional nodal metastases at the time of presentation were a significant indicator of local and regional recurrence and of prognosis. The cause specific five-year survival for patients with an uninvolved neck (22 patients) was 100 per cent compared with 38 per cent for patients with nodal metastases at presentation (eight patients). Elective treatment for uninvolved regional nodes is not considered necessary.