Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the therapeutic results of radiotherapy in patients with external auditory canal cancer, with particular reference to MRI findings.
Materials and Method: The records of eight patients with locally advanced carcinoma of the external auditory canal treated between 1996 and 2006 in our institution were reviewed. Six patients were treated with surgery and radiotherapy and two with radiotherapy alone. Chemotherapy was administered in five patients. There were two T2 and six T3 tumors according to the Stell classification. The primary tumor extended to the parotid gland in four subjects, to the temporomandibular joint in two, to the dura in two, and close to the internal carotid artery or jugular vein in three on pretreatment MRI. The median follow-up was 28 months.
Results: Local control was achieved in one of the two patients with T2 disease and in two of the six patients with T3 disease. No local control was achieved in five patients with MRI findings that indicated extension to the dura or the near internal carotid artery and/or jugular vein. There was no relapse in the three patients without such MRI findings.
Conclusion: The therapeutic results in patients with T2 and T3 disease were poor. It was indicated that MRI findings closely correlated with patient outcome.
