Rhinectomy for malignant disease. A 20-year experience

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Head and Neck Surgery

Background:

• Extensive nasal carcinoma presents significant treatment challenges.
• Prior treatments like irradiation and surgery are common in patients undergoing total rhinectomy.
• Histological analysis reveals basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma as predominant types.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the oncologic outcomes and rehabilitation strategies following total rhinectomy for malignant nasal disease over a 20-year period.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 51 patients who underwent total rhinectomy for malignant disease.
• Analysis of patient demographics, prior treatments, tumor histology, recurrence rates, survival, and outcomes of surgical reconstruction.

Main Results:

• Prior irradiation was noted in 27 patients; 51% of tumors were basal or squamous cell carcinomas.
• Tumor recurrence occurred in 22 patients (43%), with 50% mortality in this subgroup.
• Overall mortality was nearly 25%, with 40% of squamous cell carcinoma patients dying from uncontrolled local disease.
• Surgical reconstruction attempts were unsatisfactory in 8 of 12 cases, often due to recurrence.

Conclusions:

• Total rhinectomy is an oncologically sound procedure for extensive nasal carcinoma.
• Delayed surgical reconstruction (at least one year post-rhinectomy) is advised.
• Nasal prosthesis utilization is crucial for successful patient rehabilitation.