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A critical look at persistent problems in the diagnosis, staging and treatment of temporal bone carcinoma

Authors :
Antonio Mazzoni
Gino Marioni
Alessandro Martini
Andrea Lovato
Paola Stritoni
Elisabetta Zanoletti
Otolaryngology / Head & Neck Surgery
CCA - Innovative therapy
Source :
Cancer Treatment Reviews, 41(10), 821-826. W.B. Saunders Ltd, Zanoletti, E, Lovato, A, Stritoni, P, Martini, A, Mazzoni, A & Marioni, G 2015, ' A critical look at persistent problems in the diagnosis, staging and treatment of temporal bone carcinoma ', Cancer Treatment Reviews, vol. 41, no. 10, pp. 821-826 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctrv.2015.10.007
Publication Year :
2015

Abstract

Temporal bone squamous cell carcinoma (TBSCC) is an uncommon malignancy with a distinctly poor prognosis in advanced cases. There is still much controversy surrounding the rational diagnostic/therapeutic approach to TBSCC. Diagnostic differences are due mainly to: the small number of cases reported (even in the largest available series); the inappropriate histological heterogeneity of several case series; the lack of an internationally-accepted staging system for TBSCC; the frequent absence of adequate radiological imaging to enable a malignancy's local, regional and distant extension to be studied in detail; and a non-standardized approach to final histological assessment of the surgical margins. As for the therapeutic approaches, several issues are still debated, including the choice between en bloc and piecemeal primary surgery for the tumor's removal, and the role of elective neck dissection. Although radiotherapy seems to be an effective adjuvant therapy in advanced cases, its role in low-stage tumors or as a primary treatment has yet to be established. The value of chemotherapy is also still unclear. The treatment strategy for TBSCC is often based on the combined experience of a given surgeon and institution, bearing the results reportedly achieved by other oncology centers in mind. To date, the optimal management of TBSCC is still elusive. We aimed to critically review the ongoing crucial issues concerning the management of TBSCC, analyzing how it is diagnosed, staged and treated, the management of recurrences, rational follow-up schedules, and prognostic factors for this disease.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
03057372
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Cancer Treatment Reviews, 41(10), 821-826. W.B. Saunders Ltd, Zanoletti, E, Lovato, A, Stritoni, P, Martini, A, Mazzoni, A & Marioni, G 2015, ' A critical look at persistent problems in the diagnosis, staging and treatment of temporal bone carcinoma ', Cancer Treatment Reviews, vol. 41, no. 10, pp. 821-826 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctrv.2015.10.007
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....2f2a9a110ea45f158bf97aca6f0ed4bc
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctrv.2015.10.007