title: Cholesterol granuloma presenting as a mass obstructing the external ear canal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cholesterol granuloma (CG) may involve the middle ear, the mastoid bone and the petrous apex. However, CG presenting as a mass obstructing the external ear canal (EEC) is relatively rare and it can be a diagnostic challenge.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of a CG occupying the mastoid antrum and presenting as a mass into the EEC. Temporal bone computerized tomography showed a soft tissue mass which eroded the posterior-superior bony wall of the EEC. On magnetic resonance imaging, the mass revealed a high signal on both T1 and T2-weighted images. The CG was removed by a mastoidectomy procedure and the histopathologic report confirmed the diagnosis of CG. A type III tympanoplasty was performed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The postoperative course was uneventful.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Otolaryngology, Aristotle University,, Papageorgiou G,H,, Thessaloniki, Greece. vanikol@med.auth.gr.
authors.forename: Vasilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nikolaidis
authors.forename: Hariklia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Malliari
authors.forename: Dimosthenis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Psifidis
authors.forename: Spyridon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Metaxas