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Spatial hearing after auricular resection for non-melanoma skin Cancer
Andrea Frosolini1, Simone Benedetti2, Olindo Massarelli1
1Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Italy.
American Journal of Otolaryngology
|August 4, 2026
Summary
Spatial hearing difficulties after ear surgery for skin cancer are mainly linked to existing hearing loss, not the surgery itself. Reconstructing the ear
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Dermatologic Surgery
- Audiology
Background:
- Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) frequently affects the external ear, necessitating surgical resection.
- Auricular reconstruction aims to restore form but functional outcomes, particularly spatial hearing, require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate spatial hearing outcomes in patients who underwent auricular resection and reconstruction for NMSC.
- To identify factors influencing spatial hearing performance post-surgery.
Main Methods:
- A consecutive case series of 23 patients treated for auricular NMSC.
- Postoperative assessment included pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ-12).
- Statistical analysis used Spearman correlation and nonparametric tests to explore associations.
Main Results:
- Patients exhibited mild-to-moderate hearing loss (mean PTA 40.2 dB HL).
- Self-reported spatial hearing difficulty was mild-to-moderate (mean SSQ-12 score 3.9).
- Spatial hearing scores strongly correlated with baseline PTA (ρ = -0.767, p < 0.001), independent of age, lesion size, or surgery duration. Reconstruction method did not significantly impact overall SSQ-12 scores.
Conclusions:
- Spatial hearing outcomes after auricular resection for NMSC are primarily determined by pre-existing auditory thresholds.
- While overall scores were unaffected, subtle functional benefits in complex listening scenarios may arise from auricular contour restoration.
- Integrating functional hearing assessment into oncologic ear surgery planning is recommended, with a call for prospective studies using objective measures.
