[Retroauricular approach to complete obliteration of the external ear canal caused by osteoid osteoma]

Osteoid osteoma of the temporal bone is an infrequent benign bone tumor. The suspected diagnosis is based on clinical findings (occasionally pain, cosmetic deformities, repeated external otitis and conductive hearing loss), otoscopy, the radionuclide bone scan, and computerized tomography. Histopathology confirms the diagnosis of osteoma. Pain responds to acetylsalicyclic acid. Treatment is surgical excision by curettage and eburnation of the bone margins using an endaurul approach. We report a complete obliteration of the outer ear canal by an osteoid osteoma in a 32-year-old patient. A postauricular approach was required because of the large size of the tumor.