Malignant tumor of the external auditory canal

The neoplasms from the modified apocrine glands of the external auditory canal are usually included under the term ceruminoma without any reference to their histology, clinical course or prognosis. It seems better to classify them according to their histologic pattern in the following types: 1.--Ceruminous adenoma, 2.--Adenoid-cystic carcinoma, 3.--Adenocarcinoma, and 4.--Pleomorphic adenoma (mixed tumour). We describe a case of adenoid-cystic carcinoma originated at postero-superior wall of the external auditory canal which presented as an otitis of long duration, and was treated surgically and received post-operative radiotherapy. The patient is at present free of disease. We review the literature on this group of tumours of the EAC.