Multidisciplinary management of external auditory canal carcinoma: Insights from a case series

Primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the external auditory canal (EAC) is an exceptionally rare malignancy with limited literature on optimal management and outcomes. This case series details the multimodality management of three patients with SCC of the EAC treated at a single institution. The treatment approach for all patients involved surgical intervention followed by adjuvant radiotherapy using intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), with one patient also receiving concurrent chemotherapy. At a follow-up of up to 28 months, all three patients achieved locoregional control of their disease. Both acute and late treatment-related toxicities were manageable and favorable, with all patients maintaining a good quality of life post-treatment. This series reinforces that a combination of surgical resection and adjuvant IMRT is an effective standard of care for locally advanced EAC tumors, providing excellent locoregional control with an acceptable toxicity profile. Further studies are warranted to optimize long-term outcomes.