A Population-Based Analysis of Treatment, Survival, and Demographics in Otologic Malignancies

Abstract

Introduction: Otologic (external ear, middle ear, and temporal bone) malignancies are relatively uncommon tumors. Their location adjacent to vital structures such as the carotid artery, jugular vein, otic capsule, and temporal lobe makes treatment potentially challenging.  Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine overall survival outcomes in patients with otologic malignancies obtained via a population-based cancer database. Methods: A search of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was used to identify patients treated for external ear, middle ear, and temporal bone malignancies from 1973-2018. Demographic and overall survival data were compiled and analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and logistic regression analysis. Results: The SEER database identified 9317 patients with otologic malignancies. Multivariate analysis of the SEER data showed that age, race, sex, subsite, histopathological type, overall stage, T, N, and M stage, and treatment type significantly affected overall survival. Conclusion: This study examined data on demographics, treatment, and survival of patients with otologic malignancies utilizing the population-based SEER database. Overall stage and T, N, and M stages, patient age, sex, race, treatment type, and histopathological type all appear to significantly impact overall survival. Patients treated with surgery as part of their treatment regimen appeared to have higher 5-year overall survival than patients treated nonsurgically.