The results of radiotherapy of cancer of the middle ear.

Between 1971-1986 29 patients with cancer of the middle ear were treated with radiotherapy. Eighteen patients were treated with curative intent, 17 after incomplete surgery and 1 after biopsy only. Eleven patients were irradiated palliatively. In curative radiotherapy wedge pair technique or mixed photon-electron beam was used with a tumor dose of 60 Gy in 24-30 fractions. The probability of 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) is 53% for patients treated with curative intent. There is a correlation between extent of disease and survival. Excessive early reaction was observed in two patients, and late bone necrosis in one. Mean survival in the palliatively irradiated group was 3.6 months.