A modified lateral temporal bone resection (mLTBR) is a unique technique that spares the tympanic membrane (TM) and ossicles in select patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCCa). The records of 5 patients with SCCa of the temporal bone with negative frozen-section biopsy at the tympanic annulus were reviewed. The mean follow-up time for the patients was 29.2 months. One patient received postoperative radiation due to cervical nodal extracapsular spread. All patients were recurrence free as of the most recent follow-up (range, 8-50 months). Postoperative audiometry demonstrated an average conductive hearing loss of 9 dB (range, 0-17 dB). The mLTBR with sparing of the TM can be an effective alternative to the traditional lateral temporal bone resection (LTBR) with better hearing results for patients with SCCa involving the bony external auditory canal. In the short term, oncologic results of mLTBR appear equivalent to the LTBR. However, long-term follow-up is needed for >5-year outcomes.
Keywords: lateral temporal bone resection; ossicles; squamous cell carcinoma; tympanic membrane.