Patient Outcomes in Total Rhinectomies

Abstract

Objectives:

(1) Evaluate the outcomes of patients who underwent total rhinectomies. (2) Give physicians a better understanding of prior treatment modalities, postoperative survival outcomes, and rehabilitation options.

Methods:

Retrospective chart review of patients who underwent a total rhinectomy during the past 17 years. The variables collected included age, sex, presenting symptoms and signs, tumor size, tumor location, tumor histology, incorrect initial diagnoses, initial treatments, postoperative chemoradiation, and any recurrence of disease, as well as outcomes of prosthetic rehabilitation.

Results:

Seventeen patients had squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 13 patients had basal cell carcinoma, and 2 patients had adenoid SCC. Nineteen patients had postoperative chemoradiation. Eleven patients had recurrence of their disease with an average recurrence time of 20 months. Of the 26 patients fitted with prosthesis, half had specific complaints, the most common of which were bad fit and irritation. At the time of this study, 17 patients were dead, 9 patients were alive, and 6 patients had been lost to follow-up.

Conclusions:

Only 8 out of 32 patients had no record of other prior treatment, which speaks to the importance of appropriately managing nasal malignancies. Most patients fitted with a prosthesis were ultimately unhappy in terms of both appearance and comfort, suggesting a need for better rehabilitation options.