Types of cancer that affect the ears
Ear cancer is a rare type of cancer. Most of these cancers begin on the skin of the outer ear. About 5 to 10 percent of skin cancers occur on the ear. Ear cancer can affect both the external and internal parts of your ear.
The ear has three parts: the inner, middle, and outer ear.
The outer ear is further divided into three parts:
- The pinna (the visible, outer auricle of the ear)
- The meatus (ear canal)
- The tympanic membrane (eardrum)
The middle ear contains three small bones that pass sound vibrations from your eardrum to your inner ear.
The temporal bone surrounds your ear and is part of your skull.
The most common kind of ear cancer affecting the inner and outer ear is squamous cell carcinoma. Other cancers that affect the ear include are:
- Melanoma
- Basal cell carcinoma
Other cancers that affect the inner ear, middle ear, and ear canal include:
- Melanoma
- Basal cell carcinoma
- Adenocarcinoma
- Adenoid cystic carcinoma