Treatment of carcinoma of the middle ear

31 patients with carcinoma of the middle ear were observed over a period of 15 years. Polytomography was used to determine the local extent of the disease. Of 22 patients given radical therapy, 15 were treated by mastoidectomy followed by radiation therapy. The 5-year survival rate was 40%, which is in agreement with the findings of several other authors. Patients treated by irradiation alone had a poor survival rate.