Clinical Assessment of Anatomic Origin Effect on the Clinical Outcomes in Primary Squamous Cell Carcinomas Affecting Nasoethmoidal Complex

BACKGROUND: Sinonasal squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) present a great challenge in their diagnosis and management owing to their rapid growth, regional recurrence, local recurrence, and aggressive spread locally. AIMS: The present clinical trial was conducted to evaluate anatomic subsites' impact on the outcomes concerning SCCs affecting ethmoid sinuses and nasal cavity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records for tumor staging, tumor classification, grading (histologic) clinical features, symptoms, anatomic subsite, p16 results, treatment provided, and the Tumor-related outcomes were obtained for 28 subjects. Following staging and grading, p16 assays were evaluated along with disease-specific survival and disease-free survival. The collected data were subjected to the statistical evaluation and the results were formulated by keeping the level of significance at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Origin was seen from nasal septum, nasal floor, lateral wall, ethmoid sinus, and edge of naris to mucocutaneous junction in 21.4% (n = 6), 7.14% (n = 2), 35.71% (n = 10), 7.14% (n = 2), and 28.57% (n = 8) subjects, respectively. For tumor staging, Stages I, II, III, and IV tumors were seen in, respectively, 39.28% (n = 11), 21.42% (n = 6), 10.71% (n = 3), and 28.57% (n = 8) study subjects. Node status was N0, N1, N2, and N3 in 78.57% (n = 22), 3.57% (n = 1), 7.14% (n = 2), and 10.71% (n = 3) subjects. Carcinoma arising from nasal septum had statistically significant worse disease-specific survival compared to carcinomas arising from other sites (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The present study concludes that anatomic subsites largely govern the outcomes and tumor behavior. Also, squamous cell carcinoma affecting the nasal septum is an aggressive tumor with more compromised outcomes and more lymph node involvement.