[Carcinoma of the skin of the external auditory meatus]

Carcinoma of the external meatus is a rare disease and a challenge to treat. Demographic and clinical characteristics of this disease are discussed for 14 patients treated in the Institute of Otorhinolaryngonlogy and Maxillofacial Surgery during the period 1993-2003. using four different clasification of the disease. All patients were treated surgically with postoperative radiotherapy. Five years survival is 100% for the II and II stage of the disease for all clasifications, and 75% for the III stage according to Pitsburg clasiffication. Reccurence of the disease in the first year after treatment is 66.6% and, 84% in the second year. The diagnostic protocol is clinical examination, computed tomography of the temporal bone, nuclear magnetic resonance of the temporal bone and endocranium, ultrasound examination of the neck and parotid region and tumor biopsy. The surgical approach could be less radical, through mastoid, with postoperative