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Background: The optimal surgical technique for managing external ear melanoma and its corresponding prognosis remain areas lacking comprehensive data. In this retrospective study were patients treated with a cartilage-sparing excision of melanoma of the external ear. The primary objectives are to evaluate local control rates, overall survival, and disease-specific survival.
Methods: After conducting a structured review encompassing surgical methodologies and survival rates, a clinical retrospective analysis was undertaken involving patients treated from 2011 to 2022. The treatment approach across all cases involved cartilage-sparing resection followed by wound closure utilizing primary closure or split/full-thickness skin grafting for reconstruction. Statistical analysis was conducted employing the Kaplan–Meier survival analysis.
Results: Superficial spreading melanoma represents the predominant histological subtype observed. In all cases, patients underwent cartilagesparing resection of the tumor. Among them, 9 patients underwent simultaneous sentinel lymph node biopsy during resection, all of which yielded negative results. Subsequent to treatment, 1 patient experienced local recurrence after 9 months, while another presented with locoregional recurrence in a lymph node after 15 months. No instances of distant metastasis were recorded within the patient cohort. The local control rate was 92.86%, the overall survival 100% and the disease-specific survival 100%. The average follow-up was 41 months.
Conclusion: The outcomes regarding local control rate, overall survival, and disease-specific survival underscore the efficacy of cartilage-sparing resection as a viable treatment modality, particularly for early-stage melanoma cases. These results not only highlight the significance of achieving tumor-free margins but also emphasize the importance of attaining aesthetically satisfactory outcomes. Consequently, cartilage-sparing resection emerges as an acceptable therapeutic approach for managing melanoma of the external ear, offering promising prospects for patients in terms of both medical and cosmetic considerations.
Cite this article as: Govaert J, Brochez L, Dhooghe N, Jakobs C, Vermeersch H, Huvenne W. Retrospective analysis of cartilage-sparing resection of melanoma of the external ear. B-ENT. 2024;20(2):128-133.