Partial temporal bone resection for basal cell carcinoma of the external auditory canal with preservation of facial nerve and hearing

A 44-year-old retired naval airman with recurrent basal cell carcinoma of the external auditory canal underwent a partial temporal bone resection with preservation of the facial nerve and reconstruction of his hearing mechanism. The morbidity associated with radical temporal bone resection was avoided. Useful hearing was obtained by myringostapediopexy with staged split thickness skin grafting. The patient's postoperative appearance is enhanced by wearing of a prosthesis.