Management outcomes following lateral temporal bone resection for ear and temporal bone malignancies

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical outcomes following lateral temporal bone resection (LTBR) for management of malignancies involving the ear or temporal bone. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A retrospective medical record review was performed on patients receiving LTBR for management of malignancies involving the ear or temporal bone between 1990 and 2007. RESULTS: In this group of 35 patients, the mean age was 62.7 years, with tumor histopathologies including squamous cell carcinoma (SCC, 20), basal cell carcinoma (BCC, 7), adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC, 7), and adenocarcinoma (1). The 5-year overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and disease-free survival (DFS) were 77%, 79%, and 52%, respectively. Complete resection resulted in improved OS, DSS, and DFS (P < 0.004 for each) and reduced local recurrence (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with carcinomas of the ear and temporal bone, upfront excision including LTBR is an effective management when combined with postoperative radiation therapy. Complete removal of all disease may improve survival and decrease recurrence.