Bilateral external ear canal osteomas - discussion on a clinical case

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Neurosurgery
• Oncology

Background:

• Osteomas of the external ear are rare benign tumors.
• They require differentiation from exostoses, often linked to cold-water exposure.
• Clinical symptoms range from asymptomatic to severe complications like cholesteatoma.

Observation:

• A unique case of a patient with multiple, long-term asymptomatic osteomas of both external ear canals was observed.
• The patient presented with complete obstruction of the ear canals.
• Despite the obstruction, the patient had a long-term disease-free status.

Findings:

• Surgical intervention was performed, and histological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of osteomas.
• A notable discrepancy was found between the physical severity (complete canal obstruction) and the patient's asymptomatic, disease-free condition.
• The findings challenge typical presentations and raise questions about the underlying cause.

Implications:

• The case highlights the need for further research into the etiology of multiple bilateral external auditory canal osteomas.
• Understanding the cause may lead to improved diagnostic and management strategies for these uncommon tumors.
• This rare presentation contributes valuable data to the existing literature on external ear canal osteomas.