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External auditory canal carcinoma: clinical characteristics and long-term treatment outcomes

  • Otology
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

A Letter to the Editor to this article was published on 17 June 2020

Abstract

Purpose

Evidence-based treatment recommendations for external auditory canal (EAC) carcinoma are lacking in available literature. This study aims to evaluate the clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes of EAC carcinoma in a tertiary referral centre in a period of 15 years and identify independent prognostic factors.

Methods

Retrospective observational study enrolling all patients with primary EAC carcinoma who underwent primary surgical treatment at the Portuguese Institute of Oncology (Lisbon) between 2004 and 2018. Epidemiological, clinical, histopathological and surgical data were retrieved from clinical records and analysed.

Results

Twenty-seven patients were identified, with a median age of 77 years (range 29–92 years) and a slight female predominance (59.3%). Squamous cell carcinoma (55.6%) was the most common histological type, followed by basal cell carcinoma (40.7%) and ceruminous adenocarcinoma (3.7%). Pittsburgh tumour staging was distributed as early stage in 51.9% (I: 40.7%; II: 11.1%) and advanced stage in 48.1% (III: 29.6%; IV: 18.5%). Median follow-up period was 21 months (interquartile-range: 47). Four patients (14.8%) showed recurrence; recurrence rate was significantly higher in individuals aged < 60 years (p = 0.025) and with lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.049). Median overall survival was 88 months and estimated 2-year and 5-year overall survival rates were both 66%. Survival rates were higher in early stage patients (p = 0.021) and in those without facial palsy (p = 0.032).

Conclusion

Based on the available evidence in this review, individuals aged < 60, facial nerve impairment, advanced stage lesions, presence of lymphovascular invasion and squamous cell carcinoma histology are all associated with poor outcome and may be considered when discussing optimal treatment strategies in patients with EAC carcinoma.

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Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, EPE, Lisbon, Portugal

    Pedro Correia-Rodrigues

  2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil, EPE, Lisbon, Portugal

    Sara Ramalho, Pedro Montalvão & Miguel Magalhães

Authors
  1. Pedro Correia-Rodrigues
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  2. Sara Ramalho
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  3. Pedro Montalvão
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  4. Miguel Magalhães
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Correspondence to Pedro Correia-Rodrigues.

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Approved by the Portuguese Institute of Oncology—Lisbon Bioethics Committee; all procedures were in accordance with the ethical standards of the 1964 Helsinki Declaration.

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No formal informed consent was required for this retrospective study.

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Patient medical records were identified and analysed anonymously.

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Correia-Rodrigues, P., Ramalho, S., Montalvão, P. et al. External auditory canal carcinoma: clinical characteristics and long-term treatment outcomes. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 277, 2709–2720 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-06019-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-06019-2

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