SCOPE:
The dataset has been developed for the reporting of resection and biopsy specimens of the ear and temporal bone. It includes ONLY primary tumours of the external auditory canal, middle and inner ear, including both benign and malignant entities (specifically due to anatomic confines and management alternatives which may require significant, destructive or disfiguring surgery).
By definition, all malignancies of the external ear (pinna, concha, scaphoid, lobe, etc., such as squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, atypical fibroxanthoma, Merkel cell carcinoma and melanoma) are separately covered by the dermatopathology datasets.
Neck dissections and nodal excisions are dealt with in a separate dataset, and this dataset should be used in conjunction, where applicable. For bilateral tumours, a separate dataset should be completed for each tumour.
* Ann Sandison, UK
* Bruce Wenig, USA