Backgroung and Objectives: Malignancies of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses make up less than 1 percent of all cancer. There are only approximately 300 cases of malignant tumors of the nasal septum which have been reported in the
literature. The primary malignancies of the nasal cavity may arise from a number of sites in the nasal cavity, but the mucosa of the nasal septum presents as a relatively unusual locus. This report was conducted to investigate clinical
characteristics
and treatment outcome of malignant tumors of the seputm. Materials and Methods: We reviewed clinical data of nine patients who have been treated from January 1990 to December 1996 for malignant tumors of the nasal septum. Results:
Both
adenoid cystic carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma were found in two patients, whereas single instances of squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, malignant melanoma, epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma, and hemangiopericytoma were observed
in
the
rest of the patients. The most frequent symptoms were nasal airway obstruction (100%), followed by epistaxis (56%) and rhinorrhea (56%), None of the 9 patients with malignant tumors of the nasal septum developed distant metastasis. The various
treatment
modalities were applied : 3 cases (33%) were treated with surgery alone, one case (11%) with chemotherapy alone, 4 cases (44%) with surgery and postoperative radiotherapy. Local recurrences occurred in three cases (33%) after the primary
treatment.
The
five-year survial rate was 58 percent with the median survival time being 42 months. Conclusion: Our experience suggests that patients with septal malignant tumors should be treated with wide surgical excision, radiation therapy and
chemotherapy.
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