Magnetic resonance imaging of pleomorphic adenoma arising from the external auditory canal

Pleomorphic adenoma arising from the external auditory canal is a very rare neoplasm, and there has been no report on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of pleomorphic adenoma of the external auditory canal. We report here a case of 65-year-old male with this tumour, measuring 12 mm in a diameter. Histopathology was confirmed from the specimen obtained at the surgical excision. MR revealed that the tumour had a well-defined margin showing hypointensity on T1-weighted images and hyperintensity on T2-weighted images relative to the parotid gland. The tumour was well enhanced by contrast material. No invasion to the surrounding tissue was observed. These MR findings were compatible with pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary gland origin. In treating pleomorphic adenoma of the external auditory canal, complete surgical excision is essential for the prevention of recurrence. It can be concluded that MR imaging is helpful for making a differential diagnosis of external auditory canal tumours and selection of adequate treatment.     

Carcinoma of the external ear canal and middle ear as interdisciplinary challenge for ear surgery and radiotherapy

BACKGROUND: Carcinoma of the external auditory canal are tumours considered to have a poor prognosis. Improvement of the survival rate by surgical means alone is not possible. Individual therapy modalities as a result of an interdisciplinary approach between otosurgeon and radiotherapist are necessary. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A series of 30 patients (3 patients pretreated at other institutions) with carcinoma of the external auditory canal and middle ear treated between 1978 and 1997 in our institutions was analysed with particular reference to tumour size and its relation to surrounding tissues, patterns of neck node involvement, surgical procedures, and radiation techniques. Clinical endpoints were freedom from local failure, overall survival, disease-free survival. The mean follow-up was 4.7 years (range: 0.1 to 18.8 years), median 3 years. RESULTS: Treatment by surgery and radiotherapy resulted in an overall 5-year survival rate of 51%. According to Pittsburgh classification the 5-year survival rate for early disease (T1- and T2-tumours) was 89%, for stage III 67% and for stage IV 39%. Most important prognostic factors were dural infiltration (all patients with dural invasion died within 2.2 years) and the infiltration of surgical margins (the 5-year survival rate of patients with complete tumour resection was 100%, but 54% in patients with tumour beyond surgical margins). 192-iridium HDR afterloading brachytherapy based on 3D CT-treatment planning is an effective tool in the management of local recurrences following surgery and a full course of external beam radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical resection followed by radiotherapy adapted to the stage of disease and grade of resection is the preferred treatment of cancer of the external auditory canal and middle ear.     

Squamous cell carcinoma of the external auditory canal

Squamous cell carcinoma of the external auditory canal is an unusual head and neck malignancy. It may occur in an ear in which there had previously been chronic inflammation, either in the external canal or middle ear. However, in most cases the etiology of the cancer is unclear. Treatment modalities have ranged from full therapy irradiation to formal temporal bone resection. Morbidity and mortality with these treatment plans alone have not been satisfactory. The purpose of this paper is to describe diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to squamous cell carcinoma of the external auditory canal used in the Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Disorders of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation for the last 10 years.     

Schwannoma of the external auditory canal: An exceptional site

IntroductionSchwannomas are benign solitary neural tumours that are only exceptional located in the external auditory canal, as only a few cases have been reported in the literature.Case reportWe report a case of schwannoma of the external auditory canal in an 18-year-old man admitted for an isolated mass of the initial segment of the right external auditory canal visible to the naked eye, obstructing all of the external auditory meatus. Computed tomography of the temporal bone showed an isolated mass of the external auditory canal. Management of this patient consisted of biopsy-excision of the mass, histological examination of which confirmed a schwannoma of the external auditory canal.DiscussionAlthough rare, the possibility of a nerve tumour of the external auditory canal should always be considered. These tumours may be isolated or may occur in the context of von Recklinghausen's disease. The clinical presentation in the external auditory canal may correspond to recurrent otitis externa secondary to obstruction of the canal by the tumour, as in the case reported here. The definitive diagnosis must be based on the results of histological and immunohistochemical examination.     

Bezold's abscess arising with recurrent cholesteatoma 20 years after the first surgery: with a review of the 18 cases published in Japan since 1960

The classic Bezold's abscess was described as a deep neck abscess arising from an acute mastoiditis. With the pervasive use of antibiotics, the incidence of otitic suppurative complications including Bezold's abscess has dramatically decreased today. This decreased incidence has led to decreased familiarity and a subsequent increased delay in diagnosis. Otolaryngologists must recognize that intervening in benign processes such as cholesteatoma can lead to unforeseen serious complications. A case of Bezold's abscess arising in a 25-year-old man with recurrent cholesteatoma 20 years after his first surgery is presented. In this patient despite the prior canal wall down tympanoplasty, granulation tissue blocked the pathway from the mastoid to the external auditory meatus. A cholesteatoma formed in this obstructed space became secondarily infected and filled the mastoid cavity with pus. This recent clinical presentation of Bezold's abscess is described and the Japanese literature reviewed to renew familiarity with this rare complication.     

Cavernous haemangioma of the external auditory canal: clinical case and review of the literature

Although benign vascular lesions are frequent in the head and the neck region, clinical evidence of cavernous haemangioma of the external auditory canal is extremely rare; when present, the lesion invades the middle ear space. Herein, a rare case of a soft mass filling the external auditory canal, not involving the tympanic membrane, in a symptomatic 59-year-old male is described. Clinical and audiological characteristics, imaging studies and surgical treatment with histological evaluation are reported, which led to a diagnosis of a cavernous haemangioma. This is only the seventh case described in the literature, to date, not involving the tympanic membrane and the middle ear space. In addition, a review has been made of the relevant literature with respect to epidemiology, presentation, evaluation, pathology, and management options for haemangiomas arising in the external auditory canal.     

Malignancies of the external ear canal and temporal bone: surgical techniques and results

A combined therapy approach to malignancies of the external auditory canal and middle ear has been developed. A technique of external canal resection and gross tumor removal from the middle ear, parotid gland, and superior cervical lymph nodes is followed by postoperative full-therapy irradiation. This combined approach has been used in 30 patients with malignancies involving the external auditory canal and temporal bone. The preoperative evaluation and surgical technique, including the intraoperative decision-making process, is described. Twenty-four patients had squamous cell carcinoma of the external auditory canal, and two patients had basal cell carcinoma. There was one patient each with adenocystic carcinoma, acinic cell carcinoma, high grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma, and a giant cell tumor of bone. This group of patients was broken down into three groups based on the extent of disease as determined at surgery. Overall control of disease, both locally and distant, for the 30 patients was 66%. There were 12 patients with disease limited to the ear canal. These patients had a 91% survival of this disease process. Seven patients were determined to have limited extension beyond the ear canal. These were treated with combined therapy with an overall control of disease of 72%. Eleven patients had extensive disease outside of middle ear into the carotid jugular spine, stylomastoid foramen, and skull base, with a survival rate of 45%. It is concluded that a step-wise removal of all gross tumor, as opposed to an en bloc dissection of the temporal bone and skull base, followed by full-therapy irradiation gives equally as good, or even better, long-term survival for this malignancy of the external auditory canal and middle ear.     

外耳道完整切除术治疗早期外耳道癌的临床研究

目的：提高早期外耳道癌诊断和手术治疗效果，介绍外耳道完整切除的手术方法。方法：回顾性分析12例早期外耳道癌的临床表现，所有患者均采用外耳道完整切除、颞骨侧切除和腮腺浅叶切除，随访1～3年。结果：男7例，女5例；年龄28～75岁，其中T1 4例，T2 8例。8例患者术前耳部疼痛或胀痛。6例患者术前有耳流水，其中3例患者有血性分泌物。查体外耳道可见大小不等的新生物，6例患者术前活检而被诊断，另6例以外耳道新生物为主诉，行外耳道肿块切除后病理确诊。术后病理诊断：腺样囊性癌6例，鳞状细胞癌5例，耵聍腺癌1例。腮腺组织和腮腺表面淋巴中未见有肿瘤累及，外切缘足够，向内未突破鼓膜。5例鳞状细胞癌，1例耵聍腺癌和3例腺样囊性癌患者术后接受放射治疗。所有患者在随访期间无瘤存活。有6例患者术后出现术侧不完全性面瘫，House—Brackmann评分为3～4级，均在术后1～3个月内完全恢复。12例患者术前平均听阈（500，1000，2000 Hz）为38dB，术后平均听阈（500，1000，2000 Hz）为65dB，均为传导性听力下降。1例患者术后出现腮腺涎漏，经加压包扎后痊愈。结论：及时的病理活检是诊断早期外耳道癌的关键。具有安全边缘的外耳道的完整切除是提高手术效果的有效途径。     

Primary pleomorphic adenoma of the external ear canal. Report of a case and literature review

INTRODUCTION: Primary neoplasms of the external ear canal are rare, and 5% of these tumors are of glandular origin. Ceruminal glands are modified sweat glands of the skin of the external auditory meatus that may give rise to (a) benign tumors such as ceruminous adenoma, pleomorphic adenoma, and syringocystadenoma papilliferum, and (b) malignant tumors such as ceruminous adenocarcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and mucoepidermoid carcinoma. An alternative theory holds that pleomorphic adenomas may well arise from ectopic salivary tissue present in the external ear canal. These tumors are very rare and usually have a benign course. In this report, we describe an unusual case of pleomorphic adenoma of the external auditory canal associated with chronic infection of the middle ear. CASE REPORT: A 60-year-old woman presented with exacerbation of left otalgia over a 6-month period. She had been affected with chronic otitis media and aural polyps for the last 13 years, for which she had received medical treatment only. A canal-filling aural polyp was noted on clinical examination. Subsequent biopsy and histologic examination revealed pleomorphic adenoma of the external ear canal, possibly with malignant elements. Magnetic resonance imaging showed no intracranial extension or any association with the adjacent parotid gland. The patient underwent modified radical mastoidectomy and complete resection of the tumor and the entire skin of the external auditory canal. Final histology and immunohistochemistry confirmed the absence of malignancy, and no recurrence has been reported 1 year postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Pleomorphic adenoma is an extremely rare tumor arising from the ceruminal glands of the external ear canal. Nonspecific presentation and difficult histologic diagnosis characterize this benign neoplasm. Wide local excision is the mainstay of treatment.     

Carcinoma of the external auditory canal.

Successful management of carcinoma of the external auditory canal depends upon four factors: 1. early diagnosis is imperative if a high cure rate is to be expected; 2. correct evaluation of the extent of the malignancy; 3. adequate surgery based upon correct evaluation; and 4. postoperative radiation in certain selected cases. In this review of 35 cases, two factors were used to determine whether the disease was localized or extensive. When extension occurs inot the mastoid as deep as the middle ear cleft or into the facial nerve, it should be designated as extensive tumor. Tumors which do no go as deep as the facial nerve or involve the mucosa of the middle ear should be designated as localized tumors. In localized tumors, it is possible to perform a wide en bloc resection of the bony and cartilaginous external auditory canal including the tympanic membrane and malleus, and if necessary, including the superficial lobe of the parotid. Postoperative radiation is indicated when the pathological specimen shows unclear margins in the surgical dissection. With localized tumors, en bloc resection of the external auditory canal offers a high cure rate. In extensive lesions, an en bloc dissection removing the bulk of the tumor mass, followed by irradiation, seems to offer at least as good a prognosis as more radical surgery.     

Intradermal nevus of the ear canal

While intradermal nevi are common benign pigmented skin tumors, their occurrence within the external auditory canal is uncommon. The clinical and pathologic features of an intradermal nevus arising within the external auditory canal are presented, and the literature reviewed.     

A temporal bone study of posterior semicircular canal resection for exposure of the internal auditory canal (PSCC resection)

Partial resection of the labyrinth is becoming accepted as a means of improving access to the internal auditory canal and central skull base neoplasms. In this investigation, an infralabyrinthine approach was performed on 20 temporal bones. The dissection was extended by transection of the endolymphatic duct, then excision of the posterior semicircular canal. The maximal lateral exposure of the internal auditory canal (IAC) was measured after each manoeuvre. Resection of the posterior semicircular canal increased lateral exposure in 7/20 specimens to an average 61% of the length of the IAC. Posterior canal resection improved superior exposure and increased the circumference of exposure in all specimens.     

颞骨次全切除术治疗外耳道腺样囊性癌的疗效分析

目的 探讨颞骨次全切除术在外耳道腺样囊性癌的临床应用效果。方法 回顾性分析2015—2019年收治的8例外耳道腺样囊性癌患者的临床资料，其中男2例，女6例；年龄33~76岁，平均年龄55.6岁。耳痛7例，外耳道肿块、耳溢液、听力下降各6例，面瘫1例；从最初出现症状到确诊平均为2.75年，5例曾被误诊，3例曾被误治手术；6例行颞骨次全切除+腮腺浅叶切除术，2例行颞骨次全切除+全腮腺切除术。结果 围手术期内1例患者出现局部切口感染，1例出现脑脊液漏。全部患者平均随访4.34年；6例患者无瘤存活；1例复发患者于我院二次手术后3年再次出现局部复发伴肺转移，接受放射治疗，目前带瘤生存；1例患者术后随访3.5年死于其他疾病。结论 外耳道腺样囊性癌早期症状不典型，容易误诊；确诊后应实施颞骨次全切除术以达到彻底切除肿瘤目的，术中应同时处理腮腺；术后放疗也是一种可选择的补充治疗手段。     

Cavernous hemangioma of the external ear canal

Cavernous hemangiomas are benign tumors of blood vessel origin. Cavernous hemangiomas arising from the tympanic membrane with or without involvement of the skin of the deep external auditory canal may occur in rare cases. In this paper, the clinical and pathological findings in the first recorded case of a patient with a cavernous hemangioma arising from the skin of the deep external canal with no involvement of the tympanic membrane are presented.     

Leiomyoma of the external auditory canal—a case report and brief review of the literature

Leiomyoma usually originates from the uterus and alimentary tract, but rarely from the soft tissue of the head and neck. It is extremely rare that leiomyoma appears in the external auditory canal. A 47-year-old male with left external auditory canal leiomyoma presented with conductive hearing impairment and post-auricular swelling. Tumor excision was successful via a retroauricular approach. The pathological examination demonstrated a vascular leiomyoma without malignant change. To date, including our case, only three cases of external auditory canal leiomyoma have been reported. The tumor occurs mainly in adult males aged around 50 and should be included in the differential diagnoses for external auditory canal tumor. The proper treatment of choice is complete excision. In case of an external auditory canal tumor, even if it is believed to be benign before surgery, precise pathologic examination is required to exclude the possibility of malignancy.     

A case of ceruminous adenocarcinoma of the external auditory canal presenting as an aural polyp

Ceruminous adenocarcinoma is a rare malignant tumor arising from the ceruminous gland of the external auditory canal ceruminous gland. Usually it displays no specific clinical symptoms or signs, so most reported cases have involved an advanced tumor and the treatment results have been disappointing. It is important to make an early diagnosis to improve the treatment's outcome. We present the case of a 54-year-old female patient with a 1-year history of feeling blockage in her left ear. Otoscopic examination revealed an aural polyp arising from the cartilaginous ear canal's anterosuperior wall. A wide local excisional biopsy was performed, and the pathologic result was a ceruminous adenocarcinoma. We were able to detect the tumor early, and en bloc resection was possible in the form of a partial temporal bone resection.     

Isolated myxoma of the external auditory canal

The majority of neoplasms within the external auditory canal are benign. Management of these primary tumors and their local recurrences are discussed herein. We present a case of an isolated myxoma of the external auditory canal with a review of the common histopathological and radiographic features. Although rare, this highlights the possibility of encountering benign tumor types that carry associated morbidity or mortality due to manifestations outside of the head and neck. Laryngoscope, 124:1220–1222, 2014     

Post-traumatic pseudomeningocele presenting as a cyst of external auditory canal: report of a case

Pseudomeningoceles are formed by extravasation of cerebrospinal fluid through a dural defect into soft tissue. They mostly form as a result of surgical trauma to the dural covering of the lumbar or cervical spine surgery, especially during laminectomy. Howerver, post-traumatic pseudomeningocele rarely occurs in the head and neck. A 32-year-old female presented with a 10-year history of right ear fullness following head trauma. A soft, non-pulsatile and cystic mass was noted in the right external auditory canal. The MRI scan demonstrated the connection between subarachnoid space and cyst of the right external auditory canal. The right ear was explored and mastoid antrum was partially filled with a cyst connected to the dural defect. The extradural portion of the mass was removed, the dural defect was repaired with a temporalis fascia-cartilage graft. Clinical manifestations, diagnosis and surgical approaches for post-traumatic pseudomeningocele arising in the head and neck region are briefly discussed.     

Osteoma of the ear canal presenting with headache

Osteoma of external auditory canal is a rare benign tumour. Usually it is found incidentally and often symptomless. Here we have a case of osteoma arising from the anterior wall of the bony external auditory canal, causing ipsilateral temporal headache which was relieved by removal of tumour.     

Elective Parotidectomy in the Management of Advanced Auricular Malignancies

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine whether elective parotidectomy is necessary in patients with clinically and radiographically N₀ parotid disease with isolated primary auricular nonmelanoma cutaneous malignancies. Auricular malignancies are typically managed by wedge resection or wide local excision. Although small lesions are easily managed by conservative excision, large bulky tumors, those with multifocal involvement, and recalcitrant lesions, often require more extensive resection including total auriculectomy, parotidectomy, and/or neck dissection. Study Design: A 10‐year retrospective case review from four tertiary university medical centers from 1992 to 2002. Methods: Information was retrospectively retrieved using a database of patients from the department of pathology. Seventy‐one charts were reviewed. Patients with a clinical history of advanced nonmelanoma auricular carcinoma undergoing elective parotidectomy and/or neck dissection with clinically and radiographically N₀ nodal disease were evaluated for the presence of occult parotid metastasis. All patients underwent parotidectomy in conjunction with a total auriculectomy for surgical extirpation of their primary auricular carcinoma. Parotid specimens were evaluated for histopathologic evidence of metastatic neoplastic disease. Results: Pathological examination showed no histological evidence of occult parotid metastasis in all 19 patients who underwent elective parotidectomy in the presence of clinically and radiographically N₀ nodal disease of the parotid or cervical regions. Conclusions: Parotidectomy may not be necessary in the surgical management of advanced auricularcarcinoma in the absence of clinically positive parotid disease or external auditory canal involvement.