Abstract
Temporal bone pathology of five cases who died of invasion primary cancer of the ear were studied. In case 1, carcinoma originated from the external ear and treatment consisted of mastoidectomy and postoperative irradiation. A histopathological study revealed extensive invasion of carcinoma in the mastoid cells and posterior fossa destroying the pyramis, however, no invasion into the labyrinth was found. In case 2 and 3, carcinoma originated from the middle ear and subtotal resection of the temporal were done after irradiation. Case 2 who died of meningitis demonstrated no existence of carcinoma on histopathological study. Case 3 who died of recurrence of carcinoma in the postoperative area of the temporal bone, showed persistence of carcinoma in the eustachian tube. In case 4 and 5, carcinoma originated also from the middle ears. Irradiation therapy was given in case 4 and mastoidectomy was done in case 5, after preoperative irradiation. Histopathological studies revealed extensive invasion in both temporal bones. This study suggests that inner ear is resistent to invasion of carcinoma and irradiation, but the mastoid bone is susceptible to invasion of the carcinoma and is apt to become a route for intracranial invasion.
