Ear tumors can develop in the outer, middle, or inner ear and may cause hearing loss. Most ear tumors are benign but some can be malignant. Benign ear tumors include acoustic neuromas, adenomas, cholesteatomas, glomus tympanicum para ganglio, keloids, osteomas, exostoses, and sebaceous cysts. Malignant ear tumors include basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Risk factors for ear cancer include fair skin, sun exposure, ear infections, older age, radiation exposure, and secondhand smoke. Treatment depends on the type and location of the tumor but may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, gamma knife surgery

1. CANCER OF EAR
INRODUCTION
Ear tumors can form on the outer ear (skin cancer), inner ear (acoustic neuroma) or middle ear
(glomus tympanicum). Most tumors are benign, but they may have causing hearing loss.
Treatments include surgery, radiosurgery, radiation therapy and Mohs surgery.
DEFINITION
Ear cancer may also start from within the ear or can spread from adjacent structures. It is a rare
condition. It can also affect the temporal bone.
TYPES OF BENIGN EAR TUMORS
1. Acoustic neuromas: it forms on the vestibular nerve
2. Adenomas: theses are rare non-cancerous tumors that develop in the middle ear
3. Cholesteatomas are sac of fluid, air or skin cells that form behind the eardrum in the
middle ear. They can lead to hearing loss if not treated
4. Glomus tympanicum para ganglio: it affects the tympanic nerve.
5. Keloids are type of fibrous scar tissue. They can form after an ear piercing or trauma to
the outer ear.
6. Osteomas and exostoses form on bones in the external ear canal
7. Sebaceous cysts: it contains skin cells and oil. They can develop in the ear anal, behind
the ear or on the earlobe. They are also called as epidermal inclusion cysts.
TYPES OF MALIGNANT EAR TUMORS
1. Basal cell carcinoma
2. Melanoma
3. Squamous cell carcinoma.
ETIOLOGY
Several different types of cancer can affect the ear
Skin cancer
Cancer of ear usually starts on a skin cancer as the external ear which then spread throughout
the various ear structures.
1. Basal cell carcinoma: affects the basal layer cells f te epidermis
2. Squamous cell carcinoma: affects the squamous cells of the epidermis. It is the most
common type of ear cancer. It can also affect the outer cartilage of the ear.
3. Melanoma: cancer of melanocyte cells of skin ca also affect the ear.
Adenoid cystic carcinoma
This typically affects the external auditory canal of the ear
Parotid tumors
Malignant growths of the parotid gland can spread to the ear canal

2. RISK FACTORS
1. Being fair skinned
2. Spending time in the sun without sunscreen
3. Frequent ear infections
4. Being older
5. Prior radiation exposure
6. Passive smokers.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
The symptoms of cancer of ear vary depending on what part of ear is affected
Outer ear
1. Scaly patches of skin that remain, even after moisturizing
2. Pearly white lumps under the skin
3. Skin ulcers that bleed
Ear canal
1. Lump in or near the entrance to the ear canal
2. Hearing loss
3. Discharge from the ear

3. Middle ear
1. Discharge from the ear, which may be blood
2. Hearing loss
3. Ear pain
4. Numbness on the affected side of the head.
DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION
1. History collection
2. Physical examination and ear examination
3. Otoscopic examination
4. Audiometry test for hearing loss
5. Biopsy: this procedures remove the tumor or cells from the tumor
6. CT scan and MRI
7. Electronystagmography
MANAGEMENT
1. Some non—cancerous ear tumors don’t need treatment unless the tumor affects hearing
or balance
2. Gamma knife surgery (radiosurgery): to remove benign ear tumors like acoustic
neuromas. This procedure directs high doses of radiation directly to the tumour. It is
not a surgical procedure.
3. To treat keloids, inject the tumor with a corticosteroid. Some keloids require surgical
removal followed by radiation therapy.
4. Mohs surgery: to remove the cancerous skin cells
5. Radiation therapy, radiosurgery or chemotherapy to destroy cancer cells
COMPLICATIONS
1. Hearing loss
2. Vertigo
3. Facial weakness.
4. Infection of the cyst