ENT Quiz – Progressive Hearing Loss

Exostosis Right External Auditory Canal

32 year old male patient presented with complaints of right side gradually progressive hard of hearing.

  • No tinnitus, vertigo, ear ache, ear discharge.
  • No noise exposure.
  • No history of any ototoxic drugs.

On examination:

  • Right tympanic membrane could not be visualized. Right External auditory canal ?Polyp present. Left tympanic membrane intact

Investigation

  • CECT Temporal bone attached here.

What could be the provisional diagnosis?




Answer

The diagnosis is Osteoma – Osteomas of the external ear are uncommon benign tumors that need to be differentiated from the external ear canal exostoses, bony proliferations that are linked mainly to cold-water exposure.

Bony growths in the external ear have been largely classified as exostoses (most frequently encountered) and osteomas, to differentiate their mechanisms of origin. Although the exact intrinsic mechanism that triggers their development is unknown, most of the authors agree that exostoses are a reaction to cold-water stimulation of the local periosteum, while osteomas are benign osseous tumors.

Author

Dr. Sanu. P. Moideen, MBBS, MS (ENT), DNB (ENT), FHNOS, is an otolaryngologist (ENT surgeon), head and neck oncosurgeon practising in Muvattupuzha, Kerala, India. After finishing his postgraduate training, he pursued specialist training in paediatric ENT and head and neck oncosurgery from eminent institutions in India and the US.

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