eMedicine Specialties > Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery > External Ear Diseases

Malignant Tumors of the Temporal Bone: Treatment

Author: Stephanie A Moody Antonio, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School
Coauthor(s): Barry E Hirsch, MD, Professor, Department of Otolaryngology; Director, Division of Otology/Neurotology
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Mar 19, 2009

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Primary radiation is ineffective for curative treatment. In the most extreme cases in which contraindications to surgery are serious deterrents to surgery, palliative radiation and chemotherapy may be offered. The literature supports a beneficial effect of adjunctive radiation on survival, but no well-controlled studies have been performed. Postoperative radiation treatment may be indicated in advanced disease. Most authors advocate full course postoperative radiation to stage T3 or T4 tumors as defined by the University of Pittsburgh staging system. Some authors also recommend radiation for T2 disease.¹²

The literature supports a beneficial effect of postoperative radiation on survival.^1,5 The temporal bone and neck should be treated with 50-60 Gy for tumors staged T3 and T4. Radiation may also be indicated for smaller lesions.

Preoperative chemotherapy was reviewed by Nakagawa et al in a retrospective series of patients treated with preoperative chemoradiation or with chemoradiation alone).¹³ Four of 8 patients treated with Chemoradiation (5-Flourouracil or a fluoropyrimidine complex during external beam radiation with a dose of 40Gy) followed by chemotherapy in one case, were free of disease at 24-47 months. Pemberton et al reported 53% cancer-specific survival of 123 patients treated with radiotherapy alone (55 Gy).¹⁴

Surgical Therapy

In general, all patients who are medically able should undergo surgical treatment. The optimal surgery removes all of the cancer en bloc because positive margins are associated with poor survival rates. The resection procedures that can be performed for the temporal bone include a modified lateral temporal bone resection, lateral temporal bone resection, subtotal temporal bone resection, and total temporal bone resection. The specific procedures and nomenclature vary among surgeons. Adjunctive surgical procedures, including neck dissection, parotidectomy, and craniotomy, should be performed when indicated. Advanced tumors with intracranial invasion have a grave prognosis, and treatment should probably be limited to palliation with less extensive (and less morbid) surgical procedures.

Preoperative Details

Determination of tumor stage and medical status assists the surgeon in surgical planning. The goal should be complete tumor removal with preservation of CNs and other vital structures whenever possible. Preoperative planning includes mapping of disease extent by both clinical and radiographic evaluation. Tumor encroachment to the region of the internal carotid artery, sigmoid sinus, or jugular vein requires further investigation such as balloon test occlusion with xenon/CT scan (demonstrating the integrity of the contralateral cerebral artery) or angiography with venous phase (to determine dominance of the cerebral outflow). Consultation with a neurosurgeon may be necessary if involvement of the dura is suspected. The patient's medical status plays a major role in his or her tolerance of a long surgical procedure, postoperative recovery, healing, and postoperative rehabilitation.

Intraoperative Details

Management of the primary site

Hirsch and Chang have described the operative procedures in detail and the indications based on the location and stage of the tumor.¹⁵ Medina (1990) described several modifications of the lateral temporal bone dissection (LTBR) based on the location of disease.¹⁶

A modified LTBR removes the EAC and leaves the uninvolved tympanic membrane intact. This type of resection is appropriate for tumors originating in the concha without involvement of the EAC.

The LTBR includes resection of the EAC, tympanic membrane, malleus, and incus. The boundaries are the middle ear cavity and stapes medially, the mastoid cavity posteriorly, the epitympanum and zygomatic root superiorly, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) capsule anteriorly, and the medial tympanic ring or infratemporal fossa (ITF) inferiorly. The lateral margin depends on the extent of spread. The otic capsule and facial nerve are preserved. The LTBR is appropriate for T1 and T2 tumors.

The LTBR begins with a long, postauricular incision extending from the temporal fossa into the neck. If the pinna is to be preserved, a second incision is made within the concha lateral to the lesion. If the pinna is to be resected, a preauricular incision is incorporated to the postauricular incision allowing the pinna and surrounding skin to be included in the specimen. A cortical mastoidectomy is performed and the facial nerve identified. Bone removal is extended into the zygomatic root and to the digastric ridge. An extended facial recess is made, and the incudostapedial joint is separated. The facial recess is continued inferiorly and anteriorly lateral to the facial nerve, but medial to the annulus, until the specimen is attached only at the anterior canal bony wall at the level of the temporomandibular capsule. An osteotome is used to separate the bony specimen. The parotidectomy is performed en bloc.

A subtotal temporal bone resection (STBR) is performed when invasion medial to the tympanic membrane or into the mastoid (T3 disease) is evident. In this case, the medial margin may be obtained in a piecemeal fashion, usually with a drill. The specimen includes the LTBR with additional dissection of the otic capsule and the medial bony wall of the middle ear and mastoid. The margins of resection are the sigmoid sinus and posterior fossa dura posteriorly, middle fossa dura superiorly, internal carotid artery anteriorly, jugular bulb inferiorly, and petrous apex medially. Based on the extent of tumor spread, dissection may include the condyle of the mandible, the facial nerve, dura, sigmoid sinus, and contents of the infratemporal fossa. The carotid artery is skeletonized and becomes the medial margin.

Tumor involvement of the jugular bulb requires ligation of the inferior jugular vein and proximal control of the sigmoid sinus. The facial nerve is traditionally sacrificed, with the proximal margin taken in the labyrinthine or internal auditory canal segment. However, the surgeon may elect to preserve the nerve if no indication of nerve involvement exists. The medial extent of dissection at the level of the otic capsule depends on the depth of involvement and is done piecemeal. Tumor extension into the protympanum, eustachian tube, or carotid artery is addressed with an infratemporal fossa dissection. The temporalis muscle is reflected and the zygomatic arch removed. The mandibular condyle is resected. The dissection proceeds based on the extent of disease but may include identification of the pterygoid plate, the mandibular nerve (V3), and the horizontal carotid artery and may include a temporal craniotomy.

A total TBR can be used to address T4 disease. However, this procedure is associated with significant morbidity and may not significantly improve survival in these cases of advanced disease. The total TBR includes the STBR with the additional resection of the petrous apex. The internal carotid artery may be isolated, mobilized, and preserved or resected. The sigmoid sinus, jugular vein, carotid artery, dura and CNs are removed as indicated by the extent of the tumor.

Management of the parotid and temporomandibular joint

The intraparotid lymph nodes are a first echelon drainage site for cancers of the EAC and middle ear. An adequate anterior margin for the temporal bone resection routinely involves resection of the parotid gland, temporomandibular joint, and condyle. Resection of these soft tissues will also address minimal soft tissue extension beyond the temporal bone. Ideally, this is performed en bloc with the temporal bone. A superficial parotidectomy is performed with preservation of the facial nerve for T1 and T2 tumors. When the facial nerve is resected for more advanced lesions, a total parotidectomy may be performed.

Management of the neck

Although metastasis to the neck is uncommon in limited cancers of the temporal bone, neck dissections are routinely performed. With more extensive cancers, dissection of the neck offers staging and provides control of the great vessels and exposure to the skull base. However, the presence of metastasis is associated with a poor prognosis, and neck dissection does not improve survival.^5,1

Management of the dura and brain

Although involvement of the dura and brain portend for a poor prognosis, an aggressive approach includes resection of the dura and a small volume of the temporal lobe with a healthy margin.

Reconstruction

Facial nerve grafting is usually not performed in the presence of a malignant lesion. Management of facial nerve paralysis may include CN XII to VII grafting, cross facial grafting, and static procedures. Extensive resections may result in large soft tissue defects. A temporalis muscle flap can be used to fill small to medium defects. The pedicled myocutaneous trapezius flap is an excellent option for reconstruction of the soft tissue and skin defect. The pectoralis flap has limited distant reach to the resected margin. The rectus abdominus free flap and radial forearm flap are particularly suited for the area. Dural defects should be repaired primarily or with graft reconstruction.

Postoperative Details

Postoperative care consists of monitoring wound complications, flap viability, intracranial complications, and complications of CN deficits. If the dura was resected and repaired, the wound should be observed for a cerebrospinal fluid leak. Supportive care for dizziness, nausea, and vertigo is needed when the otic capsule is entered during the resection. Eye care should be instituted if postoperative facial paralysis develops or if the facial nerve is resected. Resection of CN X requires swallowing and vocal fold rehabilitation and observation for aspiration or airway complications. If the temporomandibular joint was removed, the mandible should be mobilized early to prevent contralateral dysfunction.

Complications

Complications of treatment depend on the extent of resection and the use of adjunctive radiation. Postoperative hearing loss, facial nerve paralysis, vertigo, and other CN deficits (eg, CN V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI) may occur. Dural resection may predispose to cerebral spinal fluid leaks, meningitis, or intracranial complications. Significant complications can result from trauma to or resection of the carotid artery. Radiation has known complications of fibrosis of soft tissues, destruction of salivary gland tissue, osteoradionecrosis of the temporal bone, and possibly central nervous system effects if the field of radiation extends to intracranial tissues.

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