EPITHELIOMA OF THE EAR:  A CONSIDERATION OF THE DIFFICULTIES IN ITS TREATMENT WITH RADIATION

Cure of epithelioma of the auricle can always be accomplished by removal of the auricle. The chief object in treating the condition with radiation (radium and roentgen rays) is to obviate mutilation and accomplish cure with a good cosmetic result. If a satisfactory cure cannot be gained with radiation, no compromise short of radical treatment should be adopted. The advantages of treatment by radiation justify its use in nearly every case, unless indications point definitely to futility. Many epitheliomas on the auricle are easily cured, but there is a certain percentage of them that gives difficulty.

Hintze¹ stated that when the lesion is superficial and has not invaded cartilage the usual doses of radiation produce no injury to the cartilage, but when the cartilage itself presents a raw surface and is involved by extension of the epithelioma, the prognosis is bad; also, that if cartilage is treated with large