Summary A survey of fifty-six cases of suspected external ear malignancy is presented, of which fifty-four were subsequently proved to be carcinomata. A general discussion of malignancy of the external ear is given and the clinical course of basal-cell carcinoma, squamous-cell carcinoma, and baso-squamous-cell carcinoma of this region outlined. A surgical classification of external malignancies of the ear is suggested based upon anatomical location of the lesion. An extensive discussion of the various surgical treatments of malignancy of the external ear is presented. The difficulties of radiotherapeutic treatment of these lesions is indicated. Stress is placed upon the importance of accurate pre-operative diagnosis and examination and the possibility of multiple primary skin cancer. Finally a statistical analysis of fifty-four malignancies of the external ear is given.