Ear cancers are quite rare and mainly affect older people. There are both benign and malignant neoplasms of the ear. Symptoms of these changes can be very different - ear cancer can lead to both bloody discharge from the auricle, as well as hearing impairment or facial nerve paralysis.

Ear cancersare rare - in statistics on the incidence of various cancers, proliferative changes in the ears are grouped together with other head and neck cancers, and even then their share in the total incidence of neoplastic diseases account for about 5% of all cases. Ear cancers are most common in older people aged 60-80 years. Within the ear there are three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. Neoplastic changes may develop in each of the aforementioned parts of the hearing organ, pathologies may concern not only the parts of the ear itself, but also the surrounding bone structures.

Ear tumors: types

The basic division of ear neoplasms is based on distinguishing benign and malignant changes. Among benign ear neoplasms the following are mentioned:

  • Kostniaki
  • chrzęstniaki
  • perlaki
  • neuromas of the facial nerve
  • neuromas of the cochlear nerve
  • paragangliomas (they can also be malicious)

Malignant neoplasms developing within the ear can be:

  • basal cell carcinoma of the skin
  • squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
  • melanoma
  • tumor of the endolymph sac (lesion usually characterized by local malignancy)

Ear cancer: causes

The factors involved in the appearance of ear cancer have not been well understood so far. The increased risk of developing these changes may be associated with smoking or with chronic ear infections lasting for many years - ear cancers are more common in patients exposed to these changes. In the case of malignant changes developing within the auricle, such as, for example, basal cell carcinoma, its development may lead to frequent exposure of the ear to ultraviolet radiation.

Ear cancer: symptoms

Patients with ear cancer may have different symptomscomplaints - they depend on in which part of the ear the neoplastic lesion develops. The symptoms of ear cancer include:

  • ear bleeding
  • different kinds of secretions coming out of the ear
  • tinnitus
  • severe earaches (especially those that persist despite taking painkillers)
  • hearing impairment (usually in the form of hearing loss)
  • imbalance
  • facial nerve palsy
  • changes in the auricle (e.g. in the form of ulcers or lumpy, hard formations)
  • dizziness
  • the presence of a foreign body within the ear

Ear tumors: diagnosis

The otolaryngological examination is of fundamental importance in the diagnosis of ear cancer. The exact procedure depends on the type of lesion present in the patient - growths within the auricle are most often visible at first glance, in the case of changes inside the ear it is necessary to perform an otoscopy, i.e. ear endoscopy. The changes present on the skin of the auricle may undergo a dermatoscopic examination, and biopsies may also be taken from them for the purpose of histopathological assessment of the change. If it is suspected that the tumor is significantly advanced or that it exists within the inner ear, imaging tests, such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the head, are used.

Ear cancer: treatment

Ear neoplasms are treated primarily surgically. Radiotherapy is also used in patients with these lesions. It can be used as a complementary method after surgical treatment, sometimes - in the case of advanced lesions - radiotherapy may precede the operation of the ear cancer. In rare cases, when the tumor of the auricle is very advanced, it may be necessary to remove the auricle with subsequent reconstruction. Chemotherapy is unlikely to be used in the treatment of ear cancers due to the fact that such neoplastic changes are unlikely to be sensitive to it.

About the authorBow. Tomasz NęckiA graduate of medicine at the Medical University of Poznań. An admirer of the Polish sea (most willingly strolling along its shores with headphones in his ears), cats and books. In working with patients, he focuses on always listening to them and spending as much time as they need.

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Category:

Oncology