Korean Journal of Audiology  2012;16(1):10-13

doi:10.7874/kja.2012.16.1.10

Clinical Analysis of Auricular Benign Masses.

Su Young JUNG 1 ; Myung Gu KIM ; Sung Hyun BOO ; Eun Kyung YEO ; Chul KWON ; Sun Kyu LEE ; Seung Geun YEO

Affiliations

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Keywords

Auricular mass; External ear mass

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Auricular masses are growths on the outer ear that have not been well characterized clinically. We assessed the clinical nature and treatment of auricular benign masses in patients at our institution. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified 63 patients with auricular benign masses who underwent excision and biopsy from May 1970 to April 2011. We determined the site, cause, size, pathology and postoperative results of these auricular masses. RESULTS: Auricular benign masses occurred most commonly on the lobule (44.4%), followed by the tragus (20.6%), crus of helix (11.1%), triangular fossa (6.3%), crus of antihelix-antitragus (3.1%) and scapha (1.5%). Pathologically, the most common type of auricular mass was epidermal cysts (25.3%), followed by hypertrophic scar (12.6%), fibrous tissue-accessory ear (9.5%), chronic inflammation-nevus (7.9%), keloid (6.3%), hemangioma (4.7%), and skin tag-seborrheic keratosis (3.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The most common site of auricular benign masses is the lobule and most common pathology is an epidermal cyst.