Malignancy of the temporal bone and external auditory canal

A retrospective study of 18 patients with malignant tumors of the external auditory canal and temporal bone was undertaken to gain an Asian perspectiv e of this rare disease. Of these patients, 15 (83%) had squamous cell carci noma (SCC) and 61% had stage T3 tumors at presentation. The mean age was 56 years (range 38-82 years). Seven (39%) of the 18 patients had radiation-as sociated tumors (RATs), and all had undergone radiotherapy for treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The 1-year cumulative recurrence for the RAT gro up was 100%, but there was no recurrence in the non-RAT group (P = 0.001), In malignancies of the external auditory canal and temporal bone, a differe nt classification and staging system for patients with RATs may be warrante d to better guide treatment strategies.