Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the External Auditory Canal: A Sternocleidomastoid Flap Reconstruction

Introduction: Malignancies of the external auditory canal are rare, representing less than 0, 2% of head and neck tumors. The main cancer of this area is the epidermoid carcinoma, which differential diagnosis is adenocarcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma. Due to the rarity of this condition, it has been difficult for a single institution gather enough data to acquire experience and formulate optimal staging system and treatment strategy guidelines. Therefore, there is no consensus about the best surgery technique for these patients.
Objective: To describe a case of epidermoid carcinoma of the external auditory canal and its reconstructive surgery with sternocleidomastoid flap.
Case report: We report a case of 59-year-old woman who presented with a 1-year history of a growing lesion on the left tragus, left ear pain, otorrhea and local itching. The final pathologic diagnosis was epidermoid carcinoma. She had surgery treatment, and the postoperative course was uneventful. At the 4-year and 8-month checkup after surgery, no sign of a recurrent tumor was observed.
Final comments: Thus, the present study is important because it reviews this rare pathology and its treatment, which is still a matter of controversy and needs contribution from different institutions of new surgery techniques and treatment strategy.

Keywords: Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Ear Canal; Surgery