Head and Neck Cancer Research

Introduction

A neuroendocrine adenoma that is cancer in ear is a rare type of cancer. Mostly starts with the skin on outer-ear. In about 100 types of skin cancers, 15% to 20% are at risk of developing the ear cancer on outer skin of ear and 10% to 12% are at risk of causing cancer in the middle ear i.e., neuroendocrine adenoma. Therefore, neuroendocrine adenoma is a tumour that arise from the anatomic site i.e., middle ear which is called as benign glandular neoplasm or middle ear with neuroendocrine and mucin-secreting biphasic or dual differentiation. The root cause for the ear cancer is unknown, but when it causes, it lasts more than 10 years i.e., chronic cancer. There are few types of the cancers that are seen in accordance with the place and form of occurrence.

Types of Ear Cancers

Skin cancer

• Basal cell carcinoma: It affects the basal layers i.e., outer most layers of the skin.

• Melanoma: It affects the melanocyte cells. In general, these give colour to the skin, which is a rear form of the cancers and considered as the most aggressive cancer.

• Squamous cell carcinoma: It affects the squamous cells of the epidermis and also it is the most common type of the ear cancers. It mainly focusses on affecting the outer cartilage. About 15% it is spreadable.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma

It is very rare type of cancer which affects the salivary glands and has an impact on the ear, also it can be seen.

Parotid tumours

Parotid gland is the largest salivary gland, and there will be the malignant growths of the parotid gland and spread till the ear canal.

Symptoms of Ear Cancer

Depending on the place where the cancer is being affected, the symptoms vary, and few are mentioned below;

• Outer ear, which includes the ear lobe, ear rim, entrance of the ear canal shows the patchy skin even if it is moisturized. Ulcers are seen on the skin, white lumps are also seen beneath the skin.

• Ear canal, lumps are seen, discharge and even hearing loss.

• Middle ears, numbness, loss of hearing, discharge from ear are generally observed.

• Inner ear, hearing loss, headache, ringing in ears, unbearable ear pain.

Causes for Ear Cancer

It is hard to find out the reason behind the root cause of the cancer. The following are the few causes;

• In case of older people, the chances for the ear cancer are more when compared with adults. Mostly, squamous cell carcinoma is seen.

• Frequent ear infections, may be one more reason for causing the ear cancer as they are already weak and will be easily affected by the cancer.

• Too much exposure to sun light can also be a reason for ear cancer.

Diagnosis for Ear Cancer

There are many ways to screen cancer, and when coming to ear cancer, there are limited ways to trace out and they are;

Biopsy, a procedure done by giving a local anaesthesia or general anaesthesia depending on the location of the area that is affected.

MRI or CT scan maybe performed to find out the ear cancer rather performing the biopsy. Because it would be difficult to cut the tumour cell or tissue inside the ear and to find out.

TNM staging system can be used, to know the stage of the cancer. T describes tumour size; N describes whether there are any cancer cells present or not in the lymph nodes and M describes how far the cancer was spread.

Treatment for Ear Cancer

In general, surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the source for treating the cancers in ear.

• In case of skin cancer on the ear, they are cut off i.e., removed surgically.

• In case of cancer in ear lobe, radiation therapy is followed.

• In case of ear canal, the bone, ear canal and ear drum must be removed.

Conclusion

When compared to the other cancers, the ear cancer is very rare and not at all a life-threatening disease. A time to time ear cleaning, and in case of any discomfort such as long lasting ear infection, cold or congestion etc., an ENT concern is must.