[Differential diagnosis of an ear canal polyp]

Aural polyps or granulation tissue, though usually due to infection, may represent a neoplasm, the most frequent malignant tumour in childhood being rhabdomyosarcoma. We report a 9-year-old boy from whom an aural polyp was removed 4 years ago, with the histological diagnosis of a botryoid (alveolar type) rhabdomyosarcoma. Surgery and chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, adriamycin and actinomycin D were followed by a local recurrence 2 years later. This was treated by chemotherapy and irradiation with 50 Gy; the child has now been free of disease for 2 years. Rhabdomyosarcoma of the ear has a considerably improved cure rate with newer treatments if the diagnosis is made early by biopsy.