Benign eccrine cylindroma of the external auditory canal

The benign eccrine cylindroma is one of a number of histologically different tumors of the external auditory canal that have been grouped by some as "ceruminomas." The eccrine cylindroma, malignant apocrine gland tumors, and the adenoid cystic carcinomas of salivary gland origin are distinctly different histologically and in natural history and prognosis. Therapy should, therefore, be tailored to the specific tumor. A patient is presented who developed an asymptomatic external auditory canal mass that was initially incompletely excised. A recurrence five years later again proved to be a benign eccrine cylindroma of sweat gland origin. Successful and adequate treatment was local excision with a cuff of normal tissue. A variety of tumors originating from the adnexal skin structures may appear in the external auditory meatus and canal. Treatment must include biopsy and close consultation with the pathologist. The term cylindroma has been loosely applied to both benign and malignant glandular neoplasms but its usage should be restricted to the specific benign eccrine cylindrome herein described. A rationale of therapy is presented.