Squamous cell carcinoma of the external auditory canal: An evaluation of astaging system

Objective: The study was conducted to review a staging system proposed by t he University of Pittsburgh for temporal bone cancer and to evaluate surviv al status according to stage, treatment, and certain prognostic factors. Study Design: The study was a retrospective case review. Setting: The study was conducted at a tertiary care medical center and spec ialty hospital. Patients: Thirty-two patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the e xternal auditory canal were studied. Intervention: All patients underwent surgery of the temporal bone, Radiothe rapy was given depending on tumor stage and histopathologic findings. Main Outcome Measures: The 2-year survival rates of patients undergoing sur gical resection with or without adjuvant radiotherapy. Results: The 2-year survival rates for primary squamous cell carcinoma of t he temporal hone were as follows: T1 lesions 100%, T2 80%, T3 50%, and T4 7 %. Survival for T3 tumors was 75% with postoperative radiotherapy, compared with 0% with surgery alone. Conclusions: The 2-year survival data directly correlated with the staging system. The use of adjuvant radiotherapy increased survival rate in patient s with a T3 lesion.