Therapeutic management of malignant tumors of the auricle – comments on a clinical case

Abstract

Basal cell carcinoma is one of the most common malig­nan­cies located in the auricle. It is an aggressive tumor due to the local evolution, being able to invade adjacent tissues, but with a low rate of metastasis. Establishing a correct histological diagnosis is essential for proper the­ra­peu­tic management and for the patient’s prognosis. The au­thors present the clinical case of a 74-year-old patient ad­mit­ted to our clinic for a tumor of the left auricle. The pro­blems encountered in establishing a correct histological diag­no­sis, the particularities of the complete sur­gi­cal abla­tion of the tumor and the aspects related to the post-re­sec­tion auricle remodelling technique are presented, exem­pli­fied and commented, considering the practice of a sur­gi­cal in­ter­ven­tion in an area with profound esthetic im­pli­ca­tions. The short-term and medium-term results highlight the lack of tumor residue, the successful coverage of the post­abla­tive skin defect and a satisfactory local appearance in the left ear and face in general. The diagnostic and the­ra­peu­tic management of ear malignancies involves a num­ber of difficulties and must be established through inter­dis­ci­pli­­nary collaboration within a specialized oncology com­mis­sion. Complete ablation of the tumor and obtaining safe negative margin, together with the reconstructive technique used after resection allowed good results in the short and medium term from an oncological, functional and esthetic point of view. The surgical treatment is the only therapeutic means used in this case.