Carcinoma of the pinna

Ninety-seven consecutive cases of carcinoma of the pinna are reviewed in this report. Fifty-six of the tumors were basal cell and thirty-nine squamous cell carcinoma. Fifty patients were surgically treated and forty-five irradiated. Small and/or peripheral lesions were excised and the large and/or centrally located lesions referred for irradiation. Analysis of the results shows no difference in tumor control rate, and the complication rate was also comparable with both modalities. Although chondritis was seen in three cases after irradiation, it also occurred in one case after excision. Our results indicate that neither modality should be used with total exclusion of the other. Initial resection would seem preferable in small lesions where primary closure is possible and in extensive lesions where a good cosmetic result is precluded by the destruction of normal tissue. Radiotherapy seems of value in those lesions in which resection would result in objectionable cosmetic defect.