Purpose: A retrospective review of carcinomas of the nasal vestibule seen at the Queensland Radium Institute over a 30-year period was undertaken.
Methods and materials: Twenty-nine patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal vestibule who were treated with curative intent between 1960 and 1989 were analyzed. The 5-year actuarial survival and disease-free survival were 64% and 61%, respectively.
Results: Seven patients were treated with combined modality treatment using surgery and post-operative radiotherapy and 22 were treated with radiation alone. The ultimate local control for those treated with combined modality treatment was 66% and for those treated with radiation alone was 68%. The 5-year actuarial survival was 57% and 67%, respectively.
Conclusion: In view of the similar local control rates and 5-year survival in the two groups, we suggest that combined modality treatment may not be warranted in the initial treatment of patients with these tumors. Radiation treatment alone with salvage surgery would appear to be the treatment of choice.