Carcinoma of the external auditory meatus and middle ear. Results of the treatment of 28 cases.
OBJECTIVE
The authors report their experience on the treatment of 28 cases of middle ear (3) and external auditory meatus (EAM) cancers (25) with surgery and/or radiation therapy. According to histologic type, there were 23 squamous cell carcinomas, 4 basal cell carcinomas and 1 adenocystic carcinoma.


METHODS
Surgery alone was performed in 2 cases, surgery combined with radiotherapy in 11 cases, and radiotherapy alone in 15 cases. Postoperative radiation therapy dose ranged between 4500 and 5500 cGy; the definitive dose was 6000-7000 cGy. The median follow-up was 61 months.


RESULTS
Complete response rate 6 weeks after the end of the treatment, evaluated by CT scan, was 85.7% (24/28). Definitive local control was obtained in 20/28 cases for the primary site and in 26/28 cases for the neck. Nine of the 10 recurrences were retreated with low-dose radiotherapy combined with surgery, chemotherapy or hyperthermia. A new local control was obtained in 2 cases. Four patients were lost during the follow-up at 13, 14, 17 and 23 months after the end of the treatment. The survival rate was 54% (13/24); disease-free survival was 50% (11/22).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite a not very aggressive treatment, our results are quite good.
Gabriele
P
P
Department of Radiation Therapy, University of Turin, Italy.
Magnano
M
M
Albera
R
R
Canale
G
G
Redda
M G
MG
Krengli
M
M
Negri
G L
GL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004424:Ear Canal; D004428:Ear Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D004432:Ear, Middle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome