All feline diagnoses

Your cat was diagnosed with Ceruminous Gland Carcinoma. Ceruminous gland tumours of external ear canal Compare 3 treatment options for cats including TECABO (Total Ear Canal Ablation + Bulla Osteotomy), Conservative Surgery (Lateral Canal Resection), Radiation Therapy — with survival times, costs, and what to expect during treatment.

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Ceruminous Gland Carcinoma

feline

Epithelial

About This Cancer

Ceruminous gland carcinoma in cats arises from the wax-producing glands lining the external ear canal. The tumour presents as a growth within the ear canal, often causing chronic ear discharge, head-tilting, or scratching at the ear. Because early symptoms resemble those of common ear infections, the diagnosis is frequently delayed until the tumour has grown substantially. If the tumour invades deeper structures such as the middle ear, neurological signs — including Horner's syndrome (drooping eyelid, constricted pupil) or facial nerve paralysis — may develop. Complete surgical removal, typically via total ear canal ablation with bulla osteotomy (TECA-BO), offers the best chance of cure. The prognosis is generally reasonable when the tumour is detected early and can be completely removed.

Prognostic Factors(3)
Lymphovascular invasionMST 4 months with invasion vs 22 months without. Strong negative prognostic factor.
Neurologic signs at presentationMST 1.5 months with signs vs 15.5 months without.
Surgical approachTECABO 25% recurrence vs conservative surgery 67% recurrence.
Minimum Workup(4 steps)
1Otoscopic examination
2CT of head/ear
3Biopsy/histopathology
4Thoracic radiographs

Median Survival Time Comparison

How long the average patient survives with each treatment

Bar opacity reflects evidence strength
TECABO (Total Ear Canal Ablation + Bulla Osteotomy)
~50.3 mo
Conservative Surgery (Lateral Canal Resection)
See notes
Radiation Therapy
See notes
Reading this page: MST (Median Survival Time) is how long the average patient survives with a given treatment. ORR (Overall Response Rate) is the percentage of patients whose tumour shrank or disappeared. CR = Complete Response (tumour gone); PR = Partial Response (tumour shrank). Hover over any abbreviation for a quick explanation.
Strength of Evidence

Each treatment is rated by how much published research supports its use. Solid bars indicate stronger evidence; dashed bars mean less certainty.

StrongLarge published studies with strong agreement among veterinary oncologists.
ModerateWidely used in clinical practice, but supported by smaller or retrospective studies.
IndirectEvidence comes from a different tumour type or species and has been applied here.
LimitedVery little published data is available for this specific treatment.

Please note: All treatment data is sourced from published peer-reviewed literature. Survival times and cost figures are approximate guides. Your pet's individual factors — including tumour grade, stage, and overall health — will influence outcomes and should guide all treatment decisions. The strength-of-evidence rating reflects how much research exists, not how strongly a treatment is recommended. This tool is designed to help you have informed conversations with your veterinary oncologist, not to replace them. Costs shown are US referral centre estimates and may vary significantly by region.