An unusual auricular malformation accompanied by accessory tragus: macrotragus

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Plastic Surgery
• Medical Terminology

Background:

• Accurate classification of ear malformations is crucial for appropriate treatment.
• Common tragal anomalies include skin tags, accessory tragus, preauricular sinus, and cysts.
• Macrotragus, a uniformly large and anteriorly displaced tragus, is an uncommon deformity often confused with accessory tragus.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present three cases of macrotragus, a rare ear deformity.
• To highlight the diagnostic distinctions between macrotragus and accessory tragus.
• To describe the surgical correction and outcomes for macrotragus.

Main Methods:

• Case series presentation of three patients diagnosed with macrotragus.
• Surgical correction involving excision of excess tragal cartilage and skin.
• Postoperative observation for complications and long-term symmetry.

Main Results:

• All three patients underwent successful surgical correction of macrotragus.
• Achieved bilaterally symmetric tragal contours post-excision.
• No early postoperative complications were noted, with no enlargement observed at 6 months.

Conclusions:

• Macrotragus is a distinct entity from accessory tragus, requiring specific diagnostic consideration.
• Surgical excision is an effective treatment for macrotragus, yielding satisfactory aesthetic and functional outcomes.
• Careful surgical technique is necessary to preserve adequate cartilage for normal tragal shape restoration.