Treatment of carcinoma in the temporal bone. Our strategy based on image study

Treatment of the temporal bone carcinoma, such like squamous cell carcinoma in the external ear canal, is still formidable challenge. Surgery is the first choice for its treatment. However, because of its complex anatomy, total removal of carcinoma in the temporal bone is difficult task for the surgeon. Inside of the temporal bone is invisible even using an endoscope, imaging study is the key to establish adequate treatment. In this article, we introduce our surgical strategy for the malignant temporal bone tumour. The first line in this strategy is whether to perform lateral temporal resection or whether to perform subtotal temporal bone resection. The second line is area of resection of the soft tissue, such like helix, concha, parotid gland and adjacent muscles. From our experience, the former is best decided by target CT imaging and the latter is best decided by MR imaging. (author)