Early lesions can be successfully treated with cautery and curettage or radiation therapy. More advanced lesions affecting the cartilage require surgical excision of V-shaped wedges or of larger portions of the pinna. Invasion of cartilage makes radiation therapy less effective and surgery the preferred treatment. Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas may also arise in or secondarily invade the ear canal. Persistent inflammation in chronic otitis media may predispose to the development of squamous cell carcinoma.
Extensive resection is indicated, followed by radiation therapy.
En bloc resection of the ear canal with sparing of the facial nerve is performed when lesions are limited to the canal and have not invaded the middle ear. All rights reserved.