An intradermal nevus of the external auditory meatus

• Published in: European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology Vol. 263; no. 3; pp. 253 - 255
• Main Authors: KAZIKDAS, K. Cagdas, ONAL, Kazim, KUEHNEL, Thomas S, OZTURK, Turker
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.03.2006
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Dermatology; Ear Canal; Ear, auditive nerve, cochleovestibular tract, facial nerve: diseases, semeiology; Female; Hearing Loss - etiology; Humans; Medical sciences; Nevus, Intradermal - diagnosis; Nevus, Intradermal - surgery; Non tumoral diseases; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Skin Neoplasms - diagnosis; Skin Neoplasms - surgery; Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions; Case study; Human; Skin disease; Progressive hearing loss; External auditory canal; Intradermal nevus; Auditory disorder; ENT disease; Hearing loss
• ISSN: 0937-4477; 1434-4726
• DOI: 10.1007/s00405-005-0980-8

We herein describe a rare case of an intradermal nevus arising in the external auditory meatus. A 36-year-old woman presented with progressive hearing loss on the right ear, and otomicroscopic examination revealed the presence of a large, violaceous, dome-shaped, papillomatous lesion originating from the posterior wall of the external canal of the right ear. Upon excisional biopsy, the tumor was diagnosed as an intradermal nevus. Thus, this is a unique case of intradermal nevus obstructing the external ear canal with the patient presenting with progressive hearing loss. The possibility of a benign nevomelanocytic nevus should not be underestimated when evaluating a lesion obstructing the ear canal, and all melanocytic nevi should be excised instead of biopsied to rule out melanoma.