Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the external auditory canal

Abstract

Primary cancers of the external auditory canal (EAC) are rare and most are squamous cell carcinomas. We report the case of a 78-year-old man who visited our institution with a 5-month history of right-side intermittent otalgia and ear fullness. Otoscopic examination showed a bulging mass arising from the superior and posterior aspects of the right EAC, and incision biopsy confirmed the lesion as adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). Lateral temporal bone resection in conjunction with total parotidectomy and neck dissection was subsequently performed. Postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy was administered and no recurrence was noted at a 26-month follow-up. We review the medical literature on the topic and suggest that early diagnosis is still the best option for successful treatment of this neoplasm. ACC arising in the EAC must be removed using radical procedures to increase the chance of local control. Subsequent metastasis that tends to develop in the lungs and regional lymph nodes is best evaluated regularly using computed tomography examination.

Correlation between the pathology and clinical presentations in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the external auditory canal

“…Previous reports have indicated that ACC of the external auditory canal is a tumor of adulthood, with a definite peak incidence in the fourth and fifth decades of life, occurring rarely in children and adolescents . In our study, the median age at diagnosis was 49 years.…”

Adenocystic Carcinoma of the External Auditory Canal: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

“…The mean age for ACC is the fifth decade and it is two times more common in women than men. The most common clinical symptoms are otorrhea, pain, hearing loss, bleeding and a mass in the ear canal [5]. A wide deep biopsy should be performed in every EAC mass, as it is essential for the establishment of the diagnosis of adenocystic carcinoma.…”

Syringocystadenoma Papilliferum of the Bony External Auditory Canal: A Rare Tumor in a Rare Location

“…Serious diagnostic difficulties may be encountered because of varied clinical and histological manifestations. SCAP presenting as a soft tissue mass that persist in the EAC should be differentiated from other benign neoplasms, such as cylindroma, papilloma, malignant ceruminous gland tumors, such as squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas, and even tuberculosis [12]. Furthermore, in cases of masses that totally obstruct the canal, only radiological investigations may reveal the exact extent of the mass.…”