OBJECTIVETo study the clinical pathology and treatments on the pseudocyst of auricle.

METHODSSixty cases of auricular pseudocyst were treated by surgery from 1993 to 2008 in our hospital. Their operation effects and the clinic pathological features were analyzed.

RESULTSThe clinic pathological data showed that the source of serous effusion of auricular pseudocyst origin from cartilage membrane in the top wall. In the early stage of the cyst, the top wall of auricular pseudocyst was the cartilage membrane. With the course progresses, the cartilage membrane in the top wall of auricular pseudocyst was proliferating, thickened and generated new cartilage. The new cartilage was formed from small piece to the big one, and eventually became an entire new cartilage on the top wall of auricular pseudocyst. Serous effusion at this time was terminated, and this cyst became intra-cartilaginous effusion of auricle. Finally the fluid between cartilages was absorbed and organized. In the cyst, the new cartilage and auricle cartilage were organized and adhered together each other. The auricle became thickened and deformed. The observation of capsule wall under light microscope showed that there were a few fibrous desmoplasia, anapetia and lymphocyte infiltrating in the fibrous tissue, as well as that there were cartilage cell layers from firmness to thicker. The cartilage cells and their lacunes were small, and the cartilage capsule and the basilaris substantia was showed as eosin. This data indicated that the cartilage was neogenesis but not degenerating. Sixty patients were followed up from 3 months to 1 year. The effect of surgical treatment for the auricular pseudocyst was satisfactory. There was no auricular deformation in these patients with the operation.

CONCLUSIONSAuricular pseudocyst can be divided into the early period (acute exudative period), the medium period (cartilage formation period) and the late period (proliferative and organized period). The treatment should be based on the pathological findings of auricular pseudocyst. The operation is easy, safe and reliable. The key of the operation is the complete removal of perichondrium and cartilage at the top of auricular pseudocyst.