title: Benign vascular lesions involving the external ear canal.
abstract: Benign vascular lesions include various forms whose classification has created some controversies in the literature. The observation of two rare cases of vascular bulge of the external ear canal prompted us to analyze the essential features of these lesions. One case was observed during an episode of otitis media, the other one was an incidental finding, and both are still on follow-up without treatment. The lesions are unmodified after 4 and 10 years, respectively. Vascular malformations can be differentiated from vascular tumors since they are present at birth, are generally stable, and do not involute. An attending strategy is justified unless symptoms occur.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, Brescia 25123, Italy. redaelli@med.unibs.it
authors.forename: Luca O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Redaelli de Zinis
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galtelli
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marconi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D046089:Hearing Loss, Mixed Conductive-Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D038781:Otoscopy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed