Idiopathic acquired ectopic auricular ossification: a case report and review of the literature

A petrified auricle is a rare condition in which the structure becomes partially or completely rigid. It arises as a consequence of calcification or ossification of the auricular cartilage. An ossified auricle is much more rare than a calcified cartilage, and it can be diagnosed only by histology. To the best of our knowledge, only 18 cases of ossification of the auricle have been previously reported in the literature. We report a new case of auricular ossification in a 72-year-old woman who had taken calcium for the previous 8 years. We also review the relevant literature.