title: [Meta-analysis of the effects of radiotherapy and surgery on carcinoma of the middle ear].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of radiotherapy and surgery on carcinoma of the middle ear.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of five published literatures was conducted according to defined selection criteria by the Review Manager 5.0 statistical software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no systematic reviews or large-scale RCTs between radiotherapy and symptomatic treatment containing surgery and radiotherapy for carcinoma of the middle ear.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiotherapy and symptomatic treatment for carcinoma of the middle ear have no obvious differences. The radiotherapy is the first choice for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the middle ear.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, People's Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China. caiqing998@yahoo.com
authors: Qing
authors: Q
authors: Cai
authors: Bokui
authors: B
authors: Xiao
authors: Zezhang
authors: Z
authors: Tao
authors: Qingquan
authors: Q
authors: Hua
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D004428:Ear Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D004432:Ear, Middle; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome