As of: February 2, 2024, 2:00 p.m
By: Judith Braun
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Ear cancer is one of the rarer types of cancer.
The prognosis is usually unfavorable.
Therefore, chronic inflammation must be treated consistently.
A tumor in the ear occurs in one to two people in a million, making it one of the rarer cancers.
He usually only meets people aged 55 and over.
According to information from the medical manual
MSD Manual,
ear tumors can be benign or malignant.
Three early symptoms can indicate ear cancer.
Ear cancer: Three important symptoms that can indicate a tumor
One to two people in a million suffer from an ear tumor.
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If the tumor is located in the external auditory canal and middle ear, it primarily originated there,
according to the
Heidelberg University Hospital .
In the temporal bone these are usually distant metastases that come from other organs affected by cancer.
Breast cancer, lung cancer, kidney cancer or prostate cancer can spread to this area.
According to the MSD Manual
, tumors in the area of the outer ear that can develop after repeated and long exposure to the sun are
so-called basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas.
Melanoma (skin cancer) can also develop on the skin of the external ear canal.
A ceruminoma (carcinoma of the cells that produce earwax) can develop in the outer third of the ear canal.
According to information from
Heidelberg University Hospital,
the following early symptoms are typical of malignant tumors of the ear:
Feeling of fullness in the ear
one-sided hearing loss
bloody ear secretion
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Ear cancer: treatment and prognosis of malignant tumors
Squamous cell carcinoma often occurs in people who suffer from chronic ear infections.
These can usually be successfully treated by using radiation therapy or surgical removal.
If the tumors are already more developed, surgical removal of a larger area of the external auditory canal may be necessary.
Melanoma, which is a faster-spreading type of skin cancer, also usually needs to be removed surgically.
Treatment for a ceruminoma, which can spread and destroy the ear canal, also involves surgical removal of the tumor and the surrounding tissue.
The prognosis for ear cancer is rather poor.
It is therefore important that chronic inflammation of the ear canal and middle ear is consistently treated by an ear, nose and throat specialist.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.