Basal cell carcinoma of the temporal bone and external auditory canal

To review the presenting features, treatment, and outcomes for patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) involving the temporal bone or external auditory canal (EAC).

Retrospective case series.

Presenting characteristics, treatment strategies, and outcomes for patients with BCC involving the temporal bone or EAC were reviewed. Main outcome measures included rates of overall and disease-free survival at 5 years.

Forty-two patients met the inclusion criteria (mean age, 67 years). The most common presenting symptoms were hearing loss (15 patients, 36%) and otorrhea (11 patients, 26%). The 5-year overall survival rate was 78%, and the 5-year disease-free survival rate was 77%. Patients who had undergone surgery elsewhere and presented with facial weakness had significantly worse overall survival (P = .004). Ten patients (24%) underwent sacrifice of at least a portion of the facial nerve at the time of their initial procedure at our institution. Two patients (5%) developed regional nodal disease. There was a trend toward better disease-free survival for patients who received adjuvant radiation therapy after surgery at our institution (P = .06).

BCC originating from or extending to the temporal bone can exhibit a wide range of behavior, ranging from superficial lesions readily managed with surgery to extensive locally invasive tumors with propensity for recurrence, treated with multimodality therapy. BCC may be associated with better prognosis than other temporal bone malignancies.

4. Laryngoscope, 128:1425-1430, 2018.