Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40775393›Full record

SynthesisEuropean archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery2026

Adjuvant radiation therapy in the management of nasal vestibule squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Jean-Marie Moukarzel, Mikhael Makhoul, Patrick El Khoury, Christopher El Hadi, Antoine E Melkane

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Jean-Marie MoukarzelDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Hotel Dieu de France Hospital, Saint Joseph University, Alfred Naccache Boulevard, P.O.Box: 166830, Ashrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon.
Mikhael MakhoulDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Hotel Dieu de France Hospital, Saint Joseph University, Alfred Naccache Boulevard, P.O.Box: 166830, Ashrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon.
Patrick El KhouryDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Hotel Dieu de France Hospital, Saint Joseph University, Alfred Naccache Boulevard, P.O.Box: 166830, Ashrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon.
Christopher El HadiDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Hotel Dieu de France Hospital, Saint Joseph University, Alfred Naccache Boulevard, P.O.Box: 166830, Ashrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon.
Antoine E MelkaneDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Hotel Dieu de France Hospital, Saint Joseph University, Alfred Naccache Boulevard, P.O.Box: 166830, Ashrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon. antoine.melkane@hdf.usj.edu.lb.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9486-9492

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeNasal vestibule squamous cell carcinoma (NVSCC) is a rare malignancy, accounting for less than 1% of head and neck cancers. Its rarity and distinct anatomical location pose management challenges, with limited high-quality evidence guiding treatment. Early-stage NVSCC is often managed with surgery or radiation therapy (RT) alone, while advanced cases may benefit from surgical resection followed by adjuvant RT. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesize evidence on adjuvant RT in NVSCC, focusing on indications, doses, recurrence, and survival outcomes.

methodsA systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and CENTRAL up to February 2024 identified eligible prospective or retrospective studies reporting outcomes of NVSCC treated with adjuvant RT. Data on patient demographics, staging, radiotherapy details, toxicities, recurrence, and survival outcomes were extracted. Meta-analysis was performed using logit-transformed proportions with fixed- and random-effects models. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression explored dose and staging effects.

resultsEighteen studies involving 1,052 patients were included, with 170 receiving adjuvant RT. Indications included positive margins, advanced stages, and pathological features such as perineural invasion. RT doses ranged from 50 to 80 Gy, with a mean of 60 Gy. The pooled locoregional recurrence rate was 24.9%, and 5-year disease-specific survival reached 88.1%. Subgroup analyses showed no statistically significant differences by dose or fractionation. Toxicities were variably reported, with some studies noting radionecrosis, fistulas, and cosmetic complications.

conclusionAdjuvant RT may offer clinical benefit in selected high-risk NVSCC cases, but evidence quality is low and heterogeneous. Standardized staging systems and prospective studies are needed to optimize treatment recommendations.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, Squamous CellNose NeoplasmsHumansNeoplasm Recurrence, LocalNeoplasm StagingRadiotherapy, AdjuvantAdjuvant radiation therapyNasal vestibuleSquamous cell carcinomaStaging

Identifiers

PMID40775393

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.