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Management of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Involving the Temporal Bone

  • OTOLOGY: Tumors of the Ear and Lateral Skull Base (G Danesi, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Otorhinolaryngology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

To examine contemporary management of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) involving the temporal bone.

Recent Findings

The modified Pittsburgh criteria have gained acceptance by many institutions for staging, planning treatment and comparing outcomes. Often primary SCC as well as secondary cutaneous SCC involving the temporal bone can be managed in a similar fashion.

Summary

T1 tumours should undergo lateral temporal bone resection (LTBR) due to the higher risk of positive margins and recurrence rates with lesser surgical procedures. T2 tumours require LTBR and superficial parotidectomy. T3 and T4 tumours often require a subtotal resection of the temporal bone (STBR), parotidectomy and cutaneous soft tissues as an en bloc excision. Advanced lesions are associated with a diminished survival especially if margins are involved. Patient outcomes are improved by a combination of surgery and postoperative radiotherapy. Preoperative imaging with high resolution CT and MRI is useful, particularly if there is evidence of large nerve perineural spread and nodal disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Queensland Skull Base Unit and Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Princess Alexandra Hospital, 199 Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia

    James J. Bowman, Matthew Ward & Benedict Panizza

Authors
  1. James J. Bowman
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  2. Matthew Ward
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  3. Benedict Panizza
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to James J. Bowman.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

All reported studies/experiments with human or animal subjects performed by the authors have been previously published and complied with all applicable ethical standards (including the Helsinki declaration and its amendments, institutional/national research committee standards and international/national/institutional guidelines).

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on OTOLOGY: Tumors of the Ear and Lateral Skull Base

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Bowman, J.J., Ward, M. & Panizza, B. Management of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Involving the Temporal Bone. Curr Otorhinolaryngol Rep 6, 330–336 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40136-018-0218-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40136-018-0218-0

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