Reirradiation for Nasal Cavity or Paranasal Sinus Tumor—A Multi-Institutional Study

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Nasal cavity or paranasal sinus tumors are rare, with treatment outcomes reported as a small subgroup of all head and neck tumors. However, due to their unique anatomical characteristics (proximity to the optic pathway and skull base), treatment efficacy and toxicity in should be focused on those areas. After curative treatment involving radiotherapy, local recurrence is common and treated mainly through surgery. Unfortunately, surgery is difficult in almost all cases due to the critical organs involved. Systemic chemotherapy plays a central role in managing recurrent tumors; however, its efficacy is insufficient to extend longevity. Reirradiation is challenging, as it leads to higher toxicity, but it potentially offers long-lasting tumor control, including cure and symptom palliation in patients with no other remaining therapeutic options. We examined this subgroup using multi-institutional data and found that reirradiation is feasible for treating nasal cavity or paranasal sinus tumors. A relatively high distant metastasis ratio was found after reirradiation, especially in patients with lymph node metastasis. ABSTRACT: We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of reirradiation of nasal cavity or paranasal sinus tumors. We collected and analyzed multi-institutional data of reirradiation cases. Seventy-eight patients with nasal or paranasal sinus tumors underwent reirradiation. The median survival time was 20 months with a medial follow-up of 10.7 months. The 2-year local control and overall survival rates were 43% and 44%, respectively. Tumor volume (≤25 cm(3)), duration between previous radiotherapy and reirradiation (≤12 months), histology (squamous cell carcinoma), male sex, and lymph node involvement were predisposing factors for poor survival. Distant metastasis was observed in 20 patients (25.6%). Grade ≥ 3 adverse events were observed in 22% of the patients, including five grade 4 (8.6%) cases and one grade 5 (1.2%) case. Tumor location adjacent to the optic pathway was a significant predisposing factor for grade ≥3 visual toxicity. Reirradiation of nasal and paranasal sinus tumors is feasible and effective. However, adverse events, including disease-related toxicities, were significant. Prognostic factors emerge from this study to guide multidisciplinary approaches and clinical trial designs.