Evaluation of Staging Systems for Cancer of the Nasal Vestibule
by
, , , , , , and
Willem Frederik Julius Scheurleer
1,*
,
Luca Tagliaferri
2,
Johannes A. Rijken
1,
Claudia Crescio
3,
Davide Rizzo
3,4,
Gian Carlo Mattiucci
5,
Frank A. Pameijer
6,
Remco de Bree
1
,
Bruno Fionda
2,
Mischa de Ridder
7 and
Francesco Bussu
3,4 1
Department of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
2
UOC Radioterapia Oncologica, Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario ‘‘A. Gemelli’’ IRCCS, Largo Agostino Gemelli, 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
3
Otolaryngology Division, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Sassari, Viale S. Pietro 43, 07100 Sassari, Italy
4
Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Viale S. Pietro 43, 07100 Sassari, Italy
5
Department of Radiation Oncology, Mater Olbia Hospital, SS 125 Orientale Sarda, 07026 Olbia, Italy
6
Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
7
Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Cancers 2023, 15(11), 3028; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15113028
Submission received: 18 April 2023
/
Revised: 19 May 2023
/
Accepted: 30 May 2023
/
Published: 1 June 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Setting the Standards for Malignancies of the Nose Vestibule)
Simple Summary
Cancer of the nasal vestibule is thought to be rare. Multiple staging systems exist for the staging of these tumors, which can lead to variability and, therefore, the poor reliability of data. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate these staging systems. One hundred and forty-eight patients with carcinoma of the nasal vestibule were included and re-staged per the available staging systems. Stage distribution varied widely between the four evaluated staging systems. The classification per Bussu et al. had the most balanced allocation of patients amongst the stages. The widespread adoption of a single system and the introduction of a designated topography code for this disease could lead to greater uniformity in data reporting and an improved understanding of the incidence and disease outcome. Further analysis of survival data is needed to assess which classification system is the best suited for nasal vestibule carcinoma.
Abstract
Squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal vestibule is reported to account for less than one percent of all head and neck malignancies. It lacks a designated WHO ICD-O topography code, and multiple systems are available for the staging of this disease, which results in unwanted variability and the subsequent poor reliability of data. The aim of this study was to evaluate the currently available staging systems for cancer of the nasal vestibule, including the recently introduced classification by Bussu et al., which built on Wang’s original concept but with clearer anatomical cutoffs. Different staging systems for cancer of the nasal vestibule (UICC nasal cavity, UICC skin cancer of the head and neck, Wang and Bussu et al.) were evaluated via a retrospective analysis of 148 patients. The staging system, per Bussu et al., had the most balanced allocation of patients among the stages. When using the Wang classification as a reference, stage migration occurred less frequently with the Bussu classification. The widespread adoption of a single staging system, as well as the introduction of a designated topography code for cancer of the nasal vestibule, could lead to more uniformity in data reporting and improve an understanding of the incidence and disease outcome. The newly proposed carcinoma of the nasal vestibule classification by Bussu et al. has the potential to improve the staging and allocation among stages. Further analysis of survival data is needed to assess which classification system is best suited for nasal vestibule carcinoma.
Keywords:
nasal vestibule; squamous cell carcinoma; sinonasal cancer; staging
