Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2018 Dec;61(12):714-717. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2018.00192.

A Case of Epidermal Cyst Occurred in the Bony External Auditory Canal Misdiagnosed as External Auditory Canal Carcinoma

• Lim SH
• Koo BM
• Park PN
• Cho HS

• KMID: 2430854
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2018.00192

Abstract

Epidermal cysts are generally benign tumors that usually originate from the skin caused by inflammation of hair cortex and proliferation of epidermal cells within the dermis; however, for these cysts to occur in the bony external auditory canal (EAC) is rare. They are often present as a solitary, painless lesion and usually asymptomatic and the diagnosis depends on the results of the histological examination. In treatment, the cyst wall must be completely removed surgically. We recently encountered a 82-year-old male with a mass in the right EAC. An otoscopic examination showed a polypoid mass on the bony EAC, which was finally diagnosed as epidermal cyst after an initial misdiagnosis as EAC carcinoma. We report the rare, unique case with literature review.

Keyword

Carcinoma; Epidermal cyst; External auditory canal

MeSH Terms

Aged, 80 and over
Dermis
Diagnosis
Diagnostic Errors
Ear Canal*
Epidermal Cyst*
Hair
Humans
Inflammation
Male
Skin