ABSTRACT

The nasal septum is an unusual place for malignant tumors to occur. The condition may be accompanied by non-specific symptoms that may cause delays in seeking medical care or may misguide the physician due to the condition’s rarity. We hereby aim to present a rare case of a squamous cell carcinoma in a 65-year-old male patient with recently progressing symptoms.

A 65-year-old male patient was admitted to Private Keşan Hospital’s Ear- Nose-Throat Department with swelling and wounds in the nose, and inability to breathe complaints. After the biopsy, pathological examination revealed moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. The patient was operated with success; the mass was thoroughly dissected and a full-thickness skin graft from the left supraclavicular region was used in the reconstruction of defected areas. Recovery was uneventful due to early diagnosis and admission, with no relapse or cosmetic concern during monthly visits in the following years.

As seen in this case, full-thickness skin grafts can be successfully used in intranasal and extranasal reconstructions, provided that they are obtained from areas with appropriate thickness. Early diagnosis and frequent monitoring are crucial in patients with squamous cell carcinoma since these tumors respond exceptionally well to treatment; although the recurrence rate is remarkably high.

Keywords: Nasal septum, squamous cell carcinoma, grafts