Foreign body granuloma of the external auditory canal.
External auditory canal polyps are most commonly inflammatory in nature but may also manifest more severe disease. Prolonged conservative therapy may delay the correct diagnosis and appropriate intervention. A case is presented of a child with chronic otorrhea treated for 4 months with topical drops and antibiotics. On referral, a large external auditory canal polyp was confirmed to represent a foreign body granuloma covering a large electrical cap, with erosion approaching the facial nerve. External auditory canal polyps that fail to respond promptly to conservative medical therapy warrant a computed tomography scan and surgical exploration with biopsy.
Harris
Kevin C
KC
Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, USA.
Conley
Stephen F
SF
Kerschner
Joseph E
JE
D002648:Child; D002781:Cholesteatoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D015745:Granuloma, Foreign-Body / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis; D011127:Polyps / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed