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Isolated preauricular pits and tags: is it necessary to investigate renal abnormalities and hearing impairment?
Yezdan Firat1, Sule Sireci, Cengiz Yakinci
1Otorhinolaryngology Department, Inonu University, Turgut Ozal Medical Center, Malatya, Turkey. yfirat@inonu.edu.tr
Insights
Children with preauricular tags and pits do not require routine screening for hearing impairment or renal abnormalities. The study found similar incidence rates compared to children without these features.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Otolaryngology
- Nephrology
Background:
- Preauricular tags and pits are common congenital external ear anomalies.
- Previous studies suggest a possible association between these anomalies and underlying renal or hearing issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence and co-existence of hearing impairment and renal abnormalities in children with preauricular tags and pits.
- To determine if routine screening for these conditions is warranted in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study involving 13,740 primary school children.
- Comparison between 35 children with preauricular tags/pits and 91 controls without these features.
- Evaluations included urinalysis, renal ultrasound, and otoacoustic emission testing.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of renal abnormalities was 2.7% in children with preauricular tags/pits versus 3.2% in controls.
- The prevalence of hearing impairment was 2.7% in children with preauricular tags/pits versus 4.3% in controls.
- No statistically significant difference in the rates of renal abnormality or hearing impairment between the groups.
Conclusions:
- Routine screening for hearing or urinary abnormalities is not necessary for children with isolated preauricular tags or pits.
- Screening may be considered if there is a family history or syndromic association of hearing or renal impairment.
Abstract:
We investigated the incidence and co-existence of hearing impairment and renal abnormalities in healthy children with preauricular tags and pits. Study population consists of 13,740 primary school children from routine health check. Thirty-five children with preauricular tags and pits were noted. Control group consisted of 91 patients without pits and tags, who underwent renal ultrasound and were scheduled to pediatric outpatient clinic. Urinalysis, renal ultrasound, otoacoustic emission were performed in both the groups. The prevalence of renal abnormality (1/36; 2.7%) and hearing impairment (1/36; 2.7%) in patients with preauricular tags and pits was similar to that of control group (3/91; 3.2% and 4/91; 4.3%) (P = 0.87, P = 0.64, respectively). According to our results, it is not necessary to investigate hearing or urinary abnormality in patients with preauricular tag or pit, unless there is an association of a syndrome or family history of hearing or renal impairment.
