[Effect of radiation on the fungal flora of the external ear canal].
A mycological study of external ear canals was performed in 40 patients with head and neck cancer to observe the radiation effect on the fungal flora in external ear canals. The control group consisted of 30 non-cancer patients. The findings were: 1. More Candida sp. and Aspergillus sp. were noted in cancer patients than control group and C. albicans were also found, which didn't exist in normal persons. 2. There were opportunistic fungal flora, Candida sp. and Aspergillus sp., in at least one side of external ear canals in 32.5% of the post-irradiated patients who had aseptic external ear canals before the radiation therapy. The reasons we inferred that the patients with head and neck cancer during the radiation therapy were predisposed to otitis externa, in addition to radiation injury to the canal skin, were: 1. The different fungal flora in external ear canals of patients with head and neck cancer before the radiation therapy. 2. The changes of fungal flora after the radiation therapy.
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000528:radiation effects; D002175:Candida / Q000528:radiation effects; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged