Discussion topic:
What specifically did you learn from the assigned readings that was not contained in the D2L lectures? Post your response and then read others posts. You may respond to one or more posts in your group.
Discussion post:
One topic that was only briefly covered in the assigned readings that was not discussed in our lectures is cancers of the ear. I found this topic interesting because it is not something I have seen much of as a radiation therapist. I have treated skin cancers to the external ear but can’t recall treating any inner ear cancers. A second look at ear cancers may help highlight some of the key points that may have been overlooked in this briefly covered topic.
The majority of inner and middle ear cancers are squamous cell and the majority of outer ear cancers are basal cell carcinomas.1 Outer ear cancers can be staged using skin cancer guidelines but there is no standard staging system for the inner ear. A proposed Pittsburg system for middle and inner ear involvemnet is in use that accounts for bony and soft tissue invasion and location of structures in addition to poor prognosis for nodal and distant metastatic involvement. A variety of treatment modalities are used to treat cancers of the ear. The external ear is most frequently treated with surgery and external beam or electron beam therapy. Surgery is successfully used for outer ear cancers and middle ear cancers involving cartilage or the auditory canal. It is notable that the outer and middle ear have lymphatic drainage while the inner ear has no lymphatics. In cases of tumors over 4cm and cartilage involvement prophylactic neck dissection is recommended.1 Iridium192 implants can be used for treating tumors smaller than 4cm. Radical resection is utilized in cases of bony involvement followed by postoperative radiation. Side effects of radiation to the inner and middle ear include cartilage and osteonecrosis.1
References
What specifically did you learn from the assigned readings that was not contained in the D2L lectures? Post your response and then read others posts. You may respond to one or more posts in your group.
Discussion post:
One topic that was only briefly covered in the assigned readings that was not discussed in our lectures is cancers of the ear. I found this topic interesting because it is not something I have seen much of as a radiation therapist. I have treated skin cancers to the external ear but can’t recall treating any inner ear cancers. A second look at ear cancers may help highlight some of the key points that may have been overlooked in this briefly covered topic.
The majority of inner and middle ear cancers are squamous cell and the majority of outer ear cancers are basal cell carcinomas.1 Outer ear cancers can be staged using skin cancer guidelines but there is no standard staging system for the inner ear. A proposed Pittsburg system for middle and inner ear involvemnet is in use that accounts for bony and soft tissue invasion and location of structures in addition to poor prognosis for nodal and distant metastatic involvement. A variety of treatment modalities are used to treat cancers of the ear. The external ear is most frequently treated with surgery and external beam or electron beam therapy. Surgery is successfully used for outer ear cancers and middle ear cancers involving cartilage or the auditory canal. It is notable that the outer and middle ear have lymphatic drainage while the inner ear has no lymphatics. In cases of tumors over 4cm and cartilage involvement prophylactic neck dissection is recommended.1 Iridium192 implants can be used for treating tumors smaller than 4cm. Radical resection is utilized in cases of bony involvement followed by postoperative radiation. Side effects of radiation to the inner and middle ear include cartilage and osteonecrosis.1
References
- Chao KS, Perez C, Brady L. Radiation Oncology Management Decisions. 3rd Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2011: 203-208.