Basal Cell Carcinoma

CHAPTER 12 Basal Cell Carcinoma

Vaishali Phalke

Epidemiology

Carcinomas of the external auditory canal (EAC) are rare. Basal cell carcinoma is not as common as squamous cell carcinoma, which is by far the most common tumor of the ear.

Clinical Features

Basal cell carcinomas in this region most commonly arise in the pinna or postauricular sulcus and extend into the EAC along the skin or along the cartilage. The middle ear cavity is very rarely affected. Bilateral basal cell carcinoma has been reported in Gorlin-Goltz syndrome, which is a cancer predisposition syndrome characterized by multiple basal cell carcinomas and diverse developmental defects. The basal cell carcinoma may present as ulcerated lesions or as tumor masses involving the EAC. It may present with progressive hearing loss, with involvement of cranial nerves V and VII, or it may even be asymptomatic. Metastasis may occur to the parotid gland and lymph nodes.

Pathology

Histologic appearance consists of islands of atypical basal cells, with neoplastic cells resembling normal basal cells with large basophilic oval nuclei, and a peripheral palisade arrangement.

Treatment

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