Clinical Assessment of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasal Cavity Proper

Nasal Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma Presenting as a Nasal Sidewall Nodule: Treatment with Mohs Surgery, Partial Rhinectomy, and Adjuvant Radiotherapy

“…Patients may present with nasal airway obstruction, erosions, tenderness, epistaxis, or a variety of other symptoms, including a nasal mass, facial swelling, nasal crusting, septal perforation, rosacea-like erythema, or rhinorrhea. 1,3,4,7,10 Our patient initially complained of watery discharge and congestion consistent with allergic rhinitis. Despite evaluation by otolaryngology, the true diagnosis was not discovered until she developed nasal tenderness and finally an intradermal mass elevating the skin of the left nasal sidewall.…”

“…14 Many patients lack clearly identifiable risk factors, particularly when developing nasal septal SCC. 3,4 Our patient did not have any apparent risk factors, although she did have antecedent surgical trauma via a rhinoplasty performed 26 years earlier.…”

“…Tumors of the nasal cavity are rare, accounting for o1% of all human malignancies and only 3 to 9% of all head and neck cancers. [1][2][3][4][5][6] Ninety percent of primary malignancies of the nasal cavity are SCC. Other tumors that may arise in the nasal cavity include melanoma, adenocarcinoma, fibrosarcoma, lymphoepithelial carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, chondrosarcoma, and osteogenic sarcoma.…”

“…Other tumors that may arise in the nasal cavity include melanoma, adenocarcinoma, fibrosarcoma, lymphoepithelial carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, chondrosarcoma, and osteogenic sarcoma. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] The olfactory region at the apex of the nasal cavity may also give rise to neuroblastomas and neuroendocrine tumors. 4,7 The nasal cavity can be divided into the nasal cavity proper, covered by mucous membrane, and the nasal vestibule, covered with keratinizing epidermis.…”

“…The site of tumor origin in the nasal cavity proper may include the nasal septal mucosa and/or the mucosa of the lateral wall of the nasal bone. 4 Tumors of the nasal septum generally present earlier, with smaller lesions at diagnosis, than tumors of the lateral wall and floor. 10 Ang and colleagues 10 reported 45 patients with intranasal malignancies, including 31 which originated in the lateral wall or floor of the nasal cavity, and 14 which arose in the nasal septum.…”