The value of preoperative radiotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced nasal cavity and paranasal sinus squamous cell carcinoma: A single institutional experience.

•Preoperative radiotherapy had an excellent complete resection rate, better than postoperative radiotherapy, which was preferable in converting patients with unresectable lesions to surgical candidates.•Preoperative radiotherapy had an good pathologic complete response rate, which could predict better local control and survival.•Preoperative radiotherapy improved orbital contents preservation rate, which contributed to organ function retention and facial preservation.•Preoperative radiotherapy achieved similar clinical outcomes, not worse than postoperative radiotherapy.•Preoperative radiotherapy did not result in additional operative complications and was well tolerated.