A review of all publications dealing with surgical treatment for squamous cell carcinomas of the temporal bone was performed. No randomized or nonrandomized control studies were identified. All studies were case series without control subjects. Twenty-six of 96 publications, which contained information on 144 patients, were analyzed. Several inferences are suggested by the available evidence; however, these areas should be investigated by properly designed randomized clinical trials: (1) patients with carcinoma that is confined to the external auditory canal have similar survival, regardless of whether mastoidectomy, lateral temporal bone resection (TBR), or subtotal TBR is performed: the addition of radiation therapy to lateral TBR does not appear to improve survival; (2) when disease extends into the middle ear, survival of patients treated with subtotal TBR appeared to be improved over those treated with lateral TBR or mastoidectomy: it remains uncertain if the addition of radiation therapy to mastoidectomy improves survival; (3) the value of surgical resection when carcinoma extends to involve the petrous apex remains unclear; (4) resection of involved dura mater does not appear to improve survival; however, incomplete data regarding margins of resection were reported; and (5) determination of the value of resection of involved brain parenchyma or internal carotid artery will require further study.