Malignant external auditory canal and temporal bone tumours: Clinical outcomes in Cape Town, South Africa
Source: PubMed Central Open Access, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine
Background Temporal bone cancers are associated with high morbidity and poor prognosis. However, no established treatment guidelines currently exist. Information on temporal bone carcinomas in sub-Saharan Africa is almost non-existent in the literature. The aim of the study was to look at the outcomes of temporal bone malignancies in a developing-world setting. st1 Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted at a tertiary-care hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, of all patients with newly diagnosed temporal bone malignancies from 2008 to 2023. Distant metastases to the temporal bone were excluded. st2 Results In total, 20 patients were identified, with a mean age of 60.7 years. From the study sample, 40% of the patients were male, and 60% were female. The most common histological diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma (70%), followed by adenoid cystic carcinoma (15%). Seventy per cent of patients were treated with curative intent; 65% with primary surgery and 5% with primary radiotherapy, respectively. The remaining patients were offered palliative radiotherapy (25%) and best supportive care (5%). Disease recurrence occurred in 25% of patients, with the mean time to recurrence being 5.6 months. The mean overall survival for the cohort was 1.52 ± 1.23 years, while the mean disease-specific survival was 1.68 ± 1.67 years. st3 Conclusion Early diagnosis of temporal bone cancers is fundamental, and aggressive resection is essential, if indicated, to obtain negative margins
Abstract
Background Temporal bone cancers are associated with high morbidity and poor prognosis. However, no established treatment guidelines currently exist. Information on temporal bone carcinomas in sub-Saharan Africa is almost non-existent in the literature. The aim of the study was to look at the outcomes of temporal bone malignancies in a developing-world setting. st1 Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted at a tertiary-care hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, of all patients with newly diagnosed temporal bone malignancies from 2008 to 2023. Distant metastases to the temporal bone were excluded. st2 Results In total, 20 patients were identified, with a mean age of 60.7 years. From the study sample, 40% of the patients were male, and 60% were female. The most common histological diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma (70%), followed by adenoid cystic carcinoma (15%). Seventy per cent of patients were treated with curative intent; 65% with primary surgery and 5% with primary radiotherapy, respectively. The remaining patients were offered palliative radiotherapy (25%) and best supportive care (5%). Disease recurrence occurred in 25% of patients, with the mean time to recurrence being 5.6 months. The mean overall survival for the cohort was 1.52 ± 1.23 years, while the mean disease-specific survival was 1.68 ± 1.67 years. st3 Conclusion Early diagnosis of temporal bone cancers is fundamental, and aggressive resection is essential, if indicated, to obtain negative margins and minimise recurrence. st4 Contribution This study provides valuable insights into temporal cancers in sub-Saharan Africa and paves the way for larger studies on the continent. st5