Clinical outcomes of sinonasal squamous cell carcinomas based on tumor etiology.

BACKGROUND: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the sinonasal cavity is a rare entity that arises as either de-novo tumors or from inverted papillomas (IPs). In this study we evaluate and compare oncologic outcomes of sinonasal SCCs based on their etiology and treatment strategy.

METHODS: This investigation was a single-center, retrospective review comparing de-novo SCCs (n = 28) and those associated with IPs (n = 38) resected during the period from 2000 to 2015. Demographic and tumor data, surgical approach, recurrence, and clinical outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS: There was no statistical difference when comparing age, smoking history, tumor origin, or tumor stage of our patients with de-novo sinonasal SCC (DN-SCC) vs IP-transformed SCC (IP-SCC). IP-SCC tumors demonstrated better overall survival (p = 0.065) and disease-specific survival (p = 0.041) compared with DN-SCC. Early T-stage IP-SCC tumors had better disease-free survival compared with early T-stage DN-SCC tumors (p = 0.002). Distant metastasis was an independent prognostic factor of worse disease-specific survival (p = 0.002). SCC disease-specific survival was not affected by surgical resection technique.

CONCLUSION: SCC tumors arising from IPs appear to have improved disease-specific survival compared with de-novo sinonasal SCC tumors. The oncologic differences between the 2 groups are found primarily among the early-stage tumors.