title: Cancer of the external auditory canal and middle ear in Denmark from 1992 to 2001.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the context of the Danish Head and Neck Cancer Group, nationwide material from 1992-2001 was analyzed to study the extent and nature of the disease, evaluate treatment, compare staging systems, and examine prognosis and survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of 68 consecutive cases: 47 squamous cell carcinoma, 10 basal cell carcinoma, and 11 other histologies. Moody (modified Pittsburgh) stages were T1 (26), T2 (9), T3 (8), T4 (23), Tx (2). Sixty-four patients were treated with curative intent: 24 primary radiotherapy, 18 primary surgery, and 22 combined. Surgery was limited to tumor excision and mastoidectomy and in 1 case temporal bone excision.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-seven of 28 recurrences involved primary site. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed 5-year locoregional control of 48%, disease-specific survival 57%, and overall survival 44%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This nationwide study confirmed that local failure is the main problem, and future improvements should focus on more aggressive local treatment.
authors.affiliation: Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, Odense, Denmark. Arm@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: Anders Rørbaek
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Gundgaard
authors.forename: Camilla M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hoff
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maare
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Holmboe
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knap
authors.forename: Lone L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buchwald
authors.forename: Hanne S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Poul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bretlau
authors.forename: Cai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D003718:Denmark; D004424:Ear Canal; D004428:Ear Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D004432:Ear, Middle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult