Surgical approach for treatment of carcinoma of the anterior wall of the external auditory canal.

OBJECTIVE

Treatment outcomes for carcinomas of the external auditory canal (EAC) were evaluated regarding radiologic and pathologic factors.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective case review.

SETTING

University hospital.

PATIENTS

Fifteen patients histologically diagnosed with carcinomas of the EAC.

INTERVENTION

A radiologic and pathologic analysis was performed on these patients histologically diagnosed with carcinomas of the EAC and treated surgically at our institution. We evaluated the size of focal defects in the anteroinferior (AI) canal wall of the tympanic bone with preoperative computed tomographic (CT) scans. Histopathologic slides for the same patients were evaluated according to the same criteria as the CT scans.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Pathologic features and estimated survival rate.

RESULTS

Preoperative CT scans of 15 temporal bones demonstrated an AI canal wall defect ranging from less than 1 mm to full-thickness destruction. Six of 15 patients had an AI canal wall defect greater than 2 mm on preoperative CT scan. Pathologic findings in these 6 cases showed extension of the tumor through the AI defect into the anterior soft tissues. Information on patients' survival status was obtained after a median follow-up period of 78.3 months (range, 18-151 mo).

CONCLUSION

Preoperative CT can be used to accurately determine the pathologic extent of tumor invasion in carcinomas of the EAC. This diagnostic method facilitates exchange of accurate clinical data in a comparable form and can be used to evaluate the efficacy of existing and proposed treatments for EAC tumors.