Nodular fasciitis of the external auditory canal: Clinical case report and review of the literature

Adrien Philippart; Jean-Christophe Degols; Jacques Vilain

doi:10.1016/j.joto.2023.09.002

Nodular fasciitis of the external auditory canal: Clinical case report and review of the literature

J Otol. 2023 Oct;18(4):240-245. doi: 10.1016/j.joto.2023.09.002. Epub 2023 Sep 9.

Authors

Adrien Philippart¹, Jean-Christophe Degols², Jacques Vilain³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Saint-Luc University Hospital, Catholic University of Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200, Brussels, Belgium.
² Chief of Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Saint-Pierre Clinic Ottignies, Avenue Reine Fabiola 9, 1340, Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
³ Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Saint-Pierre Clinic Ottignies, Avenue Reine Fabiola 9, 1340, Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.

Abstract

Nodular fasciitis is a benign reactive soft tissue tumor arising from fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. Its incidence is low and misdiagnosis is frequent especially for malignant lesions. This can lead to inappropriate and unnecessary invasive treatment. Nodular fasciitis of the external auditory canal is extremely rare. So far, around fifteen cases have been reported. We present here the case of a 90-year-old patient with nodular fasciitis of the right external auditory canal. The lesion extends anteriorly for 6.5 cm and reaches the posterior wall of the maxillary sinus. To our knowledge, this is the first case in the literature of an external auditory canal nodular fasciitis presenting as an inflammatory ear polyp with such a wide extension.

Keywords: External ear canal; Nodular fasciitis; Polyp.

Publication types

Review