Cancer of the external auditory canal and middle ear in Denmark from 1992 to 2001

Abstract

Background: In the context of the Danish Head and Neck Cancer Group, nationwide material from 1992-2001 was analyzed to study the extent and nature of the disease, evaluate treatment, compare staging systems, and examine prognosis and survival.

Methods: Review of 68 consecutive cases: 47 squamous cell carcinoma, 10 basal cell carcinoma, and 11 other histologies. Moody (modified Pittsburgh) stages were T1 (26), T2 (9), T3 (8), T4 (23), Tx (2). Sixty-four patients were treated with curative intent: 24 primary radiotherapy, 18 primary surgery, and 22 combined. Surgery was limited to tumor excision and mastoidectomy and in 1 case temporal bone excision.

Results: Twenty-seven of 28 recurrences involved primary site. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed 5-year locoregional control of 48%, disease-specific survival 57%, and overall survival 44%.

Conclusion: This nationwide study confirmed that local failure is the main problem, and future improvements should focus on more aggressive local treatment.