Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation in Middle Ear Malignancies: Insights for Early Detection and Surgical Planning

Introduction:
Middle ear cancers are rare but aggressive tumors with a poor outlook
due to late diagnosis and complicated anatomy. It is essential to
correlate radiologic findings with pathologic details for accurate staging,
effective surgical planning, and optimal outcomes.
Objective:
This study aimed to examine the link between radiologic and pathologic
data in middle ear cancers and their effect on early detection and
surgical choices.
Methods:
We conducted a prospective study involving 100 patients with
confirmed middle ear cancers, conducted at Rajshahi Medical College,
Rajshahi, Bangladesh, from January 2024 to December 2024. We
performed high-resolution computed tomography (CT) and magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) of the temporal bone, focusing on bone
erosion, mastoid involvement, petrous apex involvement, and
intracranial spread. The pathologic evaluation included histologic type,
perineural invasion, lymph vascular invasion, and margin status. Data
were analyzed using SPSS v26.0 to calculate Pearson correlation
coefficients to measure the agreement between radiologic and
pathologic findings.
Results:
The study included 56% males with an average age of 51.2 years.
Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common histologic type (62%).
We found strong correlations between intracranial extension and
dural/brain invasion (r=0.88), bone erosion and histologic bone
invasion (r=0.82), and mastoid involvement with pathologic mastoid
invasion (r=0.79). Radiologic findings changed the surgical plan in 34%
of cases, with 78% achieving local control and 81% surviving for one
year.
Conclusion:
The strong links between radiologic and pathologic findings in middle
ear cancers ensure accurate preoperative staging and surgical planning,
leading to better local control and survival outcomes. High-resolution
imaging is crucial for effective management strategies.