title: Temporal bone carcinoma: Classical prognostic variables revisited and modern clinico-pathological evidence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prognostic factors, rational management, and the ongoing investigations regarding temporal bone squamous cell carcinoma (TBSCC) have been critically reviewed.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  TBSCC is an uncommon, aggressive malignancy. Although some progress has been made in treating this aggressive tumor, the prognosis in advanced cases remains poor.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic search of the literature for articles published between 2009 and October 2014 was performed using the PubMed (http://www.pubmed.gov) electronic database.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Given the particular anatomical site of TBSCC, its prognosis is significantly influenced by any direct involvement of nearby structures. The extent of the primary tumor is generally considered one of the most important prognostic factors and it is frequently related to prognosis even more strongly than N stage. For TBSCC, biomarker investigations in surgical specimens are only just beginning to appear in the oncological literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the particular features of TBSCC, the sub-specialty of otologic oncology seems to be emerging as a defined area of practice involving multidisciplinary team comprising oto-neurosurgeons, head and neck surgeons, plastic surgeons, oncologists, radiotherapists, dedicated radiologists, and pathologists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Otolaryngology Section, Padova University, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zanoletti
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Otolaryngology Section, Padova University, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Gino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marioni
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Otolaryngology Section, Padova University, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Franchella
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Otolaryngology Section, Padova University, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Munari
authors.affiliation: E.N.T. Department, Legnano Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pareschi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Otolaryngology Section, Padova University, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Otolaryngology Section, Padova University, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martini
keywords: Prognosis; Squamous cell carcinoma; Temporal bone