External auditory meatus involvement in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma with local extension to the external auditory meatus is rarely reported. Case presentation: We present two cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with invasion to the external auditory meatus. First case at initial presentation; and the second at disease recurrence. Both patients presented with unilateral otologic symptoms corresponding to the affected site; as well as being heavily node positive. Otoscopic examination and F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission topography demonstrated the involvement of external auditory meatus. Conclusions: These two cases highlight the need of careful otoscopic examination and functional imaging to diagnose such cases.