Squamous cell carcinoma of the anterior nasal cavity: a dual institution review.

Thirty-two patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anterior nasal cavity were identified at two university hospitals. A retrospective review was conducted to identify clinical presentation, initial therapy, recurrence rates, and factors affecting survival. Treatment included surgery (n = 15), radiation therapy (n = 9), or combination therapy (n = 8). The primary lesions involved either the septum, vestibule, columella, anterior floor, or a combination of these subsites. The primary tumor involved a single nasal subsite in 22 patients and multiple nasal subsites in 10 patients. All patients had de novo squamous lesions, and all tumors were staged N0 at initial diagnosis. Six patients received prophylactic neck irradiation, and none underwent elective neck dissection. Overall, 18 (56%) patients had recurrent disease after primary therapy (5 local and 13 regional). The 5-year disease-free survival was 42%, and the 5-year overall survival was 50%. None of the patients receiving prophylactic neck irradiation had a regional recurrence. Involvement of 2 or more nasal subsites significantly decreased survival (P < 0.05). Squamous cell carcinoma of the anterior nasal cavity is an aggressive disease, and combined therapy initially with strong consideration for prophylactic radiation to the facial and cervical lymphatics is advocated.