A Retrospective Study of Skin Tumor of the Nose according to Its Anatomical Location

Bae, In Ho; Kim, Min Sung; Na, Chan Ho; Choi, Hoon; Shin, Bong Seok

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The nose plays an important aesthetic, functional role and is located at the center of the face. Due to the characteristics of its anatomical location, the nose is easily exposed and damaged due to weathering, trauma, and inflammation.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to provide information on the most common benign and malignant tumors according to their location on the nose.
METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted on 217 patients who visited the Department of Dermatology at Chosun University Hospital and underwent biopsy for suspected skin tumors in the past 6 years. The tumor was classified as benign, pre-cancerous, and malignant. Differences in the distribution of the anatomical locations of each disease group were analyzed according to the eight anatomical locations of the nose.
RESULTS
Based on the external nose anatomy, the most common site where skin tumors usually occurred was the nasal alar (29%), followed by the nasal dorsum and nasal sidewall (23.5% and 20.2%, respectively). The most common skin tumor was malignant tumor (72.3%), followed by benign tumor (21.1%) and premalignant disease (6.4%).
CONCLUSION
I In this study, among patients who underwent biopsy for suspected tumor in the nose, the most common neoplasm was malignant skin tumor and the most common anatomical location was the nasal alar. Therefore, a rapid diagnosis and treatment of skin tumors that occur in the nasal alar wound be necessary.