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.