Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the temporal bone

We report the treatment strategy and outcome for squamous cell carcinoma of the temporal bone in Kyushu University. T staging was classified by the Pittsburgh staging system. Lateral temporal bone resection was applied to both Ti and T2 cases (n = 5). When the lesion extended beyond the cartilaginous part, chemoradiotherapy was preoperatively performed. For T3 (n = 6) or the anterior lateral type of T4 cases (n = 4) without an extension to dura, internal carotid artery, and metastasis, either subtotal temporal bone resection or lateral temporal bone resection was done following the preoperative chemoradiotherapy. The medial type of T4 (n = 13) was treated by chemoradiotherapy without surgical intervention. Although the number of cases and observation period were not enough, adequate results have been obtained in both Ti and T2 cases so far. Disease-specific 5-year survival rates of T3 and T4 were 80% and 36%, respectively. Operation significantly improved the survival rate in T4 cases.