Squamous cell carcinoma of external auditory canal lacking epidermal growth factor receptor protein overexpression, in an elderly Omani with oculocutaneous albinism treated with palliative radiotherapy.

[oculocutaneous albinism]

We report a case of squamous cell carcinoma of external auditory canal in an Omani man with oculocutaneous albinism . The disease mimicked inflammatory process revealing positive cultures for various microorganisms during the course of his illness . He was eventually biopsied to rule out atypical infective process or presence of malignancy . He was staged as T 4 N 0 M 0 and treated with radical doses of palliative radiation therapy which was very well tolerated and resulted in a complete resolution of disease clinically and a major soft tissue response on radiological imaging . Another unique finding was the absence of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR ) protein overexpression in the tumour specimen . More than 90 % of mucosal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC ) involving the head and neck region overexpress the EGFR protein in normal skin patients . SCC is the predominant cutaneous malignancy in albinos , and the presence of EGFR protein overexpression in cutaneous SCC is believed to be 56 -58 % in normal skin patients . The scientific literature is scarce on reporting incidence of EGFR overexpression in either cutaneous or mucosal SCC in albinos , and it remains to be defined whether being albino is the cause for its absence .