Abstract
Carcinoma of the external auditory canal is a relatively rare head and neck tumor. We evaluated the treatment modalities and outcome of 23 cases of carcinoma of the external auditory canal, who were treated at Kurume University Hospital between 1981 and 2000. The patient's ages ranged from 43 to 85 (average 67). Ten cases were male, and 13 cases were female. Most frequently observed histologically were 17 squamous cell carcinomas, 3 adenoid cystic carcinomas, 1 adenosquamous carcinoma, 1 basal cell carcinoma and 1 anaplastic carcinoma. According to TNM staging proposed by Arriaga, 8 cases were T1 disease, 3 cases were T2 disease, 6 cases were T3 disease, and 6 cases were T4 disease. Lymph node metastas were found in 5 cases. The three-year, disease-specific survival rate, calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, was 55% for all cases, 100% for the cases with T1 or T2 disease, 50% for the cases with T3 disease, and 0% for the cases with T4 disease. The prognosis of advanced cases was significant poor. Ten patients died of primary disease. To acquire better survival results, the present study strongly suggests that radical treatment is necessary at the initial treatment.
