What is a malignant ear cancer?
A malignant tumour in the ear is a rather rare disease that develops in only one to two people out of one million. On average, a malignant tumour in the ear does not develop until after the age of 55. Especially in the early stages, ear cancer is rather inconspicuous and causes little or no discomfort, which is why it is only diagnosed at a late stage.
Which malignant tumours of ear cancer are distinguished?
Doctors distinguish between the following types of malignant tumours in the ear:
- Basal cell carcinoma: is a tumour in the outer ear and often leads to more pronounced and larger branching lesions. Basal cell carcinoma is caused by a malignant mutation of the cells in the epidermal layer.
- Squamous cellcarcinoma: is treated with radiotherapy or can be surgically removed.
- Melanoma: can form in the area around the ear, but also in the entire auricle, and is caused by the mutation of a type of skin cell called melanocytes.
- Zeruminoma: is a carcinoma of the cells responsible for earwax production and forms in the outer third of the ear canal. Although a ceruminoma does not spread to other areas, it can still destroy the ear canal and should be surgically removed along with the surrounding tissue.
Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common forms of ear cancer. If these two cancers are diagnosed at an early stage, they can be successfully treated with surgery or radiotherapy. Melanoma, on the other hand, spreads very quickly and in some cases even affects the skin of the external auditory canal. If this is the case, it must be surgically removed.
How do tumours of the outer ear differ from tumours of the inner ear?
About 70 percent of all cases of ear cancer are tumours on the outer ear. Their origin is usually epithelial, i.e. scaly carcinomas predominate in the external auditory canal and EPT epithelial carcinomas in the auricle. In 80 percent of cases of tumours in the outer ear, those in the pinna are more common. In the inner ear, the so-called melanoma is a relatively common form of malignant ear cancer.
What are the causes of ear cancer?
The causes that can lead to ear cancer are different and can vary greatly from person to person. Ear treatments that were necessary at a young age may have damaged the ear and made it more susceptible to a tumour. But long and repeated stays in the sun can also favour ear tumours in the outer ear, for example basal cell carcinoma.
What are the symptoms of ear cancer?
If there is pain in the ear over a long period of time, this can be a sign of a malignant tumour. In addition, bleeding can occur in the ear, which can be accompanied by itching or tingling. The most typical complaints that can be noticed in the middle and inner ear are:
- Immobility of the side of the face that is affected by the ear tumour,
- Loss of hearing,
- Swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck area,
- recurrent headaches
How is ear cancer diagnosed?
Diagnosing ear cancer is challenging in some cases because the symptoms can easily be confused with other diseases, such as an ear infection. Therefore, if symptoms are already present, they should definitely be clarified by a specialist. By means of imaging procedures, such as a computer tomography (CT) or a magnetic resonance tomography (MRT), the ear can be examined in more detail and the size and location of the tumour can be determined. To determine the nature of the tumour tissue, it is necessary to perform an autopsy.
How is ear cancer treated?
Various therapies can be used to treat ear cancer. Depending on the location of the tumour, these treatment options may vary. If it is an ear tumour that is located in the inner or middle ear, the following treatment options are possible:
- Surgery,
- Chemotherapy or
- Radiotherapy.
If the tumour is in the outer ear, the following therapies can be used:
- mohs micrographic surgery: combines microscopic examination with surgery, making it possible to find tumour remnants,
- Lymph node surgery: involves the removal of lymph nodes,
- Otoplasty: production of moulds, e.g. for hearing aids,
- Radiotherapy: can be used before surgery to reduce the size of the tumour and after surgery to kill off any remaining tumour cells.
What complications can occur?
Surgical removal of an ear tumour is difficult because the facial nerve runs through the inner and outer lobes of the parotid gland. This nerve controls facial expression and penetrates into the facial area. If this nerve is damaged during the operation, it can lead to permanent facial paralysis.
What is the prognosis for malignant ear cancer?
The prognosis for malignant ear cancer can vary greatly from patient to patient. It depends on many criteria, such as:
- whether the tumour is encapsulated and has not spread into the surrounding tissue,
- whether the tumour grows slowly,
- whether the tumour is located in the outer lobe of the parotid gland.
If all these criteria are present, the chances of cure increase. However, every second malignant tumour can form again even after a successful complete removal. Patients should therefore attend regular check-ups after treatment. In this way, a new formation of the tumour can be diagnosed and treated at an early stage.