Background: Carcinoma of the nose and paranasal sinuses may present at a locally advanced stage, either due to insidious growth or longstanding neglect. Surgical excision is the gold standard, with up to 82.5% obtaining loco-regional control with or without radiotherapy. Large nasal defects are severely disfiguring, and nasal reconstruction may be delayed. Nasal prostheses may be used while awaiting reconstruction or as a long-term solution. Prostheses are traditionally created by anaplastologists, which can be prohibitively expensive and unavailable in certain areas. 3D printing provides a potential solution to create a low-cost prosthetic for patients.
Learning Objectives: To understand the feasibility, cost and logistics of 3D printed nasal prosthetics.
Study Objective: To create 3D printed nasal protheses after subtotal rhinectomy. To analyze process and cost of 3D printed prosthetics.
Design Type: pilot
Method: Prospective study of rhinectomy patients who received a 3D printed prosthesis. Outcomes include the time to prosthetic creation, cost, and fit of the prosthetic.
Results: 3D printed nasal prostheses take 2-10 weeks to create compared to 10 weeks by local anaplastologists. 3D printed prostheses cost $350-400 compared to around $12,000.
Conclusion: Nasal appearance significantly affects self-image and defects contribute to poor quality-of-life after curative treatment. Reconstruction after rhinectomy improves quality-of-life, but may be delayed or not feasible in certain circumstances. The availability of 3D printed prostheses offer a faster, low-cost alternative as 3D printing capabilities become more widespread.