ABSTRACT
A 69-year-old man with histories of cardiac and abdominal operations was hospitalized in another hospital due to brain contusion. Due to hemorrhage from the distal descending thoracic aorta, he was transferred to our hospital. After a diagnosis rupture of mycotic aneurysm an urgent operation was performed. The aneurysm was replaced by an <i>in situ </i>graft. For infection control, the graft was wrapped tightly by a pedicled latissimus dorsi muscle flap. Postoperatively, local infection of the muscle-dissected cavity continued. Although his life was ultimately not saved, he was able to live a comfortable hospital life with some activity for 8 months.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Cancer arising from the external auditory canal is a rare disease. A lesion that seems harmless in someway, can be lethal when inadequately excised, the tumor may infiltrate nerves, the parotid and auditory tissues before re-invading the skin. Wide resection of the lesion surrounding the structure and reconstruction with an adequate plan is crucial for the treatment of this disease. METHODS: Two patients with external auditory canal cancer were treated with muscle flaps and skin grafts. Lateral temporal bone resection (LTBR) was performed for complete resection of the cancer. The defect cavity was obliterated with highly vascularized tissue using pedicled sternocleidomastoid muscle, and temporalis muscle individually, combined with full thickness skin graft for covering the skin defect of the ear. RESULTS: Clear resection margin was obtained, and both patients showed disease free survival during the follow up. There was no complications of hematoma, infection, flap loss, or wound problem in both patients. Both patient received radiation therapy, there was no osteoradionecrosis or any other complication related to radiation therapy. CONCLUSION: Utilizing pedicled muscle flaps for managing defects after wide resection of the external auditory canal cancer is an effective method for managing this difficult disease.