Difficulties in the management of huge squamous cell carcinomas of the nasal tip: a case report in a sub–Saharan setting

A large proportion of malignancies of the external nose can be managed with limited resection and local reconstruction or, in some cases, radiotherapy. These tumors require thorough care from diagnostic suspicion and confirmation to surgical and/or oncologic treatment and rehabilitation. The patient was a 57-year-old male sheep keeper in the Far North Cameroon mountains, presenting with a volcano-shaped lesion on the nasal tip measuring 12 cm x 7cm, growing gradually over the last 5 years. Before his consultation, he underwent traditional medications and local dressings without any good results. We performed a biopsy two months after, and the histological analysis demonstrated a squamous cell carcinoma. The patient was scheduled for a total rhinectomy and radiotherapy after all. The surgery and oncologic treatment were successfully performed two months later due to the economic burden of such procedures. At the time this case was reported, there was no local recurrence, but the patient still needed a prosthesis for reconstruction. Increased awareness among both the general population and healthcare professionals regarding head and neck cancers may facilitate earlier access for patients to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.