[Surgical treatment of tumors of the external ear]

In the years 1974-1988 in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Medical Academy in Cracow 60 patients were treated surgically for malignant tumours of the auricle. Their mean age was 61.9 years, males prevailed (82%). In 1 case the malignant lesion involved also the external auditory meatus and in 4 cases it spread to the skin near the auricle. Histological examinations demonstrated basal cell carcinoma in 22 cases (37%), spinocellular carcinoma in 31 cases (52%), basal-spinocellular carcinoma in 6 cases (10%) and malignant melanoma in 1 case. In 3 cases of spinocellular carcinoma metastases to lymph nodes were found. In 30 cases partial amputation of the auricle was done, in one of them recurrence developed after over 5 years. Advanced malignant lesions in 30 cases required extensive operation with removal of the lesion within margins of healthy tissue, removal of lymph nodes with metastases and one-step plastic operation. Recurrences developed in 2 cases. Hyperkeratotic foci near the malignant tumour were present in 64% of these patients. They made difficult preoperative qualification and required more extensive excision of the neoplasm. After tumour removal from the external meatus the resulting tissue defect must be filled with a skin graft since healing by granulation tissue development leads to obliteration of the meatus. Two out of 7 patients required additional interventions for maintenance of the patency of the meatus.