Is Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Middle Ear a Complication of Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media?
Primary neoplasia of the middle ear is a rare condition and in many patients, the precise site of origin remains doubtful. More than one third of the middle ear squamous cell carcinomas[SCC] are preceded by chronic suppurative otitis media[CSOM]. The co-existence of CSOM with or without cholesteatoma along with malignancy poses several diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for the clinician. These tumors retain a poor prognosis despite the development of increasingly radical surgical procedures and the advances in radiotherapy. Hence it is very important to detect these lesions very early. A high index of suspicion and a thorough investigation that includes multiple biopsies in suspicious cases may be required for the same. In view of the close association between CSOM and SCC of the middle ear and the evidence supporting the malignant transformation, the latter may be considered a rare complication of the former. It may be possible to prevent this dreaded complication by timely medica
