Postoperative value of serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen as a predictor of recurrence in sinonasal inverted papilloma

ObjectivesSinonasal inverted papilloma (IP) has several unfavourable characteristics and therefore requires careful monitoring. The goal of this study was to identify whether serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCa) could predict IP recurrence. DesignA retrospective cohort study. SettingDepartment of otolaryngology/head and neck surgery, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. ParticipantsOne hundred and thirty patients with IP treated at our centre with SCCa measurements available were included. Main outcome measurementsFollow-up of patients with IP since 2005, recurrence was defined as new disease within primary localisation at least 3 months after adequate surgical removal. We analysed the association between IP recurrence and serum SCCa values measured preoperatively, postoperatively and during follow-up. ResultsPreoperative SCCa values or values measured during follow-up were not associated with risk of recurrence. Postoperative SCCa was positively associated with the risk of recurrence (P < 0.001). Postoperative SCCa had a good discriminative ability for the identification of recurrence with an area under the curve of 80.9%. ConclusionPostoperative SCCa is strongly associated with risk of recurrence. This might help the surgeon in the postoperative setting by identifying high-risk patients and planning follow-up strategy tailored to the individual patient.