Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2010 Feb;53(2):84-88. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2010.53.2.84.

Characteristics of Melanocytic Nevus Arising from the External Auditory Canal

• Oh JI
• Kim HS
• Choi KY
• Cho SJ
• Kim CW

• KMID: 1455713
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2010.53.2.84

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
A nevus is a benign tumor composed of nevus cells that are derived from melanocytes. It may occur anywhere on the skin, but its appearance in the external auditory canal (EAC) is very rare. The aim of this study is to analyze the characteristics of melanocytic nevi of the EAC.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 10 consecutive patients who underwent surgical excision of EAC nevi between March 2004 and February 2009.
RESULTS
The size of these nevi ranged from 4 mm to 12 mm in diameter, with an average of 6.1 mm. Otoscopic examination revealed 7 cases of dome-shaped mass and 3 cases of papillomatous mass. Histological examinations revealed intradermal nevi in all cases, but there was one case of dysplastic nevus and two cases of papillomatous nevi that coexisted with cholesteatoma. These nevi were composed of epidermal hyperplasia and necrobiotic keratin debris within the papillomatous cleft. There has been no recurrence in these patients after 6 to 26 months (average 12.6 months) of follow-up.
CONCLUSION
A melanocytic nevus of the EAC may be composed of dysplastic cells or coexist with cholesteatoma; in particular, its gross appearance is papillomatous. Therefore, every nevus should be excised to make a histopathological diagnosis.

Keyword

External auditory canal; Melanocytic nevus; Dysplastic nevus

MeSH Terms

Aminocaproic Acids
Cholesteatoma
Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome
Ear Canal
Humans
Hyperplasia
Keratins
Medical Records
Melanocytes
Nevus
Nevus, Intradermal
Nevus, Pigmented
Recurrence
Retrospective Studies
Skin
Aminocaproic Acids
Keratins