Radiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal vestibule.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of radiotherapy (RT) alone or combined with surgery for the treatment of the nasal vestibule squamous cell carcinomas.

METHODS

Seventy-one patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal vestibule were treated with definitive RT at the University of Florida, and 8 patients with advanced T4 cancers were treated with combined surgery and RT. Patients were followed from 4 months to 27.7 years (mean 9.0 years, median 7.9 years). Follow-up on living patients ranged from 6 months to 27.7 years (mean 10.0 years, median 8.1 years).

RESULTS

The 5-year outcomes were: local control, 87%; local-regional control, 77%; freedom from distant metastases, 94%; cause-specific survival, 90%; and survival, 76%. The 5-year local control rates for patients treated with definitive RT were: T1-T2, 95%; T4, 71%; and overall, 86% (P = 0.0046). Local control was achieved in 8 of 8 patients treated with surgery and RT.

CONCLUSION

RT results in a high cure rate for T1-T2 and favorable T4 tumors. Surgery and RT result in an improved likelihood of cure for patients with extensive T4.