Radiotherapy of carcinoma of the auditory canal

From 1973 through 1986, twelve patients suffering from carcinomas of the outer auditory canal were irradiated at the Radiologic Hospital of Essen. The five-year survival was 64% after postoperative irradiation and 0% after irradiation alone. Considering the data communicated by other authors, the following therapy recommendations can be deduced: early stages where bones or cartilages are not involved represent an indication for sole operation. These tumors can be successfully treated by sole radiotherapy, too. In case of greater tumors, combined surgery and postoperative radiotherapy is the most favorable method. Besides a high total dose (50 to 60 Gy for microscopic tumor residues, about 70 Gy for macroscopic tumor residues), a sufficiently great target volume has to be chosen which includes the ear, the temporal bone, the preauricular lymph nodes and the angle of mandible. To prevent bone and cartilage necroses, it is recommended to restrict the individual doses to 1.8 to 2 Gy each.