Radiotherapy in carcinoma of the middle ear and auditory canal

In the decade 1961 to 1970, 89 patients with epidermoid carcinoma of the middle ear or auditory canal were seen. Seventy-eight were treated with 5-year survival figures of 22 per cent for middle ear, 42 per cent for auditory canal and 31 per cent for the total group. The majority of failures occurred within 18 months of diagnosis. The author suggests that radiotherapy and surgery must be combined to improve results. Eleven patients in the series developed second primary tumours.