[Squamous epithelial carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma of the inner nose and paranasal sinuses].

272 patients with tumours of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses were followed up from 1949 until 1982 at the ENT Department of the University Hospital in Kiel. 53% of the tumours were classified as squamous cell or undifferentiated carcinomata. At an early stage such tumours cause nonspecific symptoms which may mimic those of chronic sinusitis. Early diagnosis is usually hindered by the occult growth within the facial skeleton and especially by the minor symptoms caused by tumours of the paranasal sinuses. In contrast, tumours of the nasal cavity cause symptoms at an early stage and consequently are diagnosed early. The majority of cases with tumours of the paranasal sinuses present at an advanced stage (T3 to T4) in 70% of cases. The most common site of squamous cell carcinoma is the maxillary sinus (50%). Distant metastases and regional lymph node metastases are rarely seen at presentation regardless of the size of the primary tumour. Metastases usually indicate a tumour dependent death in the near future. The main prognostic indicators are the size of the tumour (significantly worse prognosis for T4 in comparison to T2 or T3 tumours) and the localisation (significantly better prognosis for tumours of the floor of the nasal cavity or the nasal septum compared to tumours of the paranasal sinuses). The age of the patient or the degree of differentiation of the tumour did not influence on the survival rate. Tumour-dependent deaths rarely occur after more than five years. Patients were assigned to two treatment groups and matched according to the tumour stage. One group received surgery only, whereas the second group received a combined treatment of surgery with subsequent radiotherapy. There was a significant difference between the two groups in favour of the surgical treatment. According to these data we recommend surgical excision without postoperative irradiation in cases where complete removal of the tumor has been histologically proven.