Ceruminous gland carcinoma of the external auditory canal presenting as chronic otitis media.
OBJECTIVE
Ceruminous neoplasms of the external ear canal are rare. Classification, clinical behavior, and management of these tumours are controversial. We report a case of carcinoma originating from the ceruminous glands of the external ear canal (EAC), operated based on a diagnosis of chronic otitis media with polyp.


METHODS
A 48-year-old man presented with left ear discharge and hearing loss. Clinical examination showed a well-circumscribed polypoid mass limited to the EAC. There was no history of bloody ear discharge or radiological findings of bony erosion suggestive of malignancy. Our preliminary diagnosis was chronic otitis media with polyp formation. Tympanoplasty was performed. Histopathology revealed a ceruminous carcinoma, and an additional operation involving lateral temporal bone dissection was performed, followed by 60 Gy radiation therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Ceruminous carcinomas should be considered in the differentialdiagnosis of middle and external ear pathologies in cases of soft tissue mass in the EAC.
Selcuk
A
A
Ankara Numune Educational and Research Hospital, 4th ENT Clinic, Turkey. sadin27@yahoo.com
Ensari
S
S
Cetin
M A
MA
Sak
S Dizbay
SD
Dere
H
H
D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D002571:Cerumen; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004428:Ear Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D004431:Ear, External; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed