Salvage Strategies for Local Recurrences of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasal Vestibule: A Single-Center Experience of 22 Years

Abstract

Squamous cell carcinomas of the nasal vestibule are an extremely rare neoplastic disease. Although brachytherapy is gaining popularity for primary treatment, surgery remains the best option in case of recurrences. The aim of this paper is to outline our treatment experience of local recurrence of SCCNVs over the past 22 years. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of the patients who underwent surgical treatment for local recurrence of SCCNV: data regarding age, sex, primary tumor treatment, recurrence location and time of appearance, surgical resection, type of reconstruction, postoperative complication, surgical revision, and re-recurrence rate were analyzed. Twenty patients were included in the study. The median period for recurrence appearance was 17 months, and the prevalent location of recurrence was the nasal alae. Prevalent reconstructive procedures were the nasolabial flap and paramedian forehead flap. No postoperative complications were observed, and one case of re-recurrence was detected at 12-months of follow-up. Based on our experience, salvage surgical procedures for SCCNV recurrences must be individualized and carefully planned, taking into account the peculiar pattern of tumor spread and the presence of scar and heavily radiotherapy damaged tissue from previous treatment; delayed reconstruction should be considered for all the cases with skeletal involvement.