Malignant tumors of the ear and temporal bone: a study of 27 patients and review of their management

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the management of patients with malignant tumors of the ear and temporal bone.

Design: Retrospective analysis of data.

Setting: Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, United Kingdom.

Participants: Twenty-seven patients were classified into two groups according to the site of origin of the tumor: (1) superficial (17 tumors): tumors arising from the skin of the pinna, parotid, and temporomandibular joint area; (2) deep (10 tumors): tumors arising in the ear canal and temporal bone.

Main outcome measures: Treatment modality, complications, recurrence rate, disease-free interval, and survival.

Results: The mean follow-up period was 25 months (0 to 60), and the median overall survival 46 months (0 to 102). Complications occurred in 6 patients (22%). The 3-year survival was 38% (95% confidence interval [CI], 19 to 58%), and the 5-year survival 19% (95% CI, 3 to 35%).

Conclusions: There were insufficient data to demonstrate any difference in survival or disease-free interval related to the site of tumor origin (superficial versus deep tumors). There were independent differences in survival in favor of both performing parotidectomy and using postoperative radiotherapy, but neither reached significance at the 0.05 level.

Keywords: Malignant tumor; ear; temporal bone; treatment.

Figure 1

Kaplan-Meier analysis. Effect of site of origin of the tumor on survival.

Figure 2

Kaplan-Meier analysis. Effect of parotidectomy on survival (independent of site of origin of the tumor).

Figure 3

Kaplan-Meier analysis. Effect of parotidectomy on survival (stratified by site of origin of the tumor). (A) Deep tumors. (B) Superficial tumors.

Figure 4

Kaplan-Meier analysis. Effect of radiotherapy on survival (stratified by site of origin of the tumor). (A) Deep tumors (radiotherapy effect p = 0.63). (B) Superficial tumors (radiotherapy effect p = 0.18).