A Case Report of Focal Ossification of the Auricular Cartilage

귀 연골조직에서 발생한 부분적 골화

  • Suh, Hyeun Woo (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Hyo Seong (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital) ;
  • Ha, Ki Young (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital) ;
  • Han, Eun Mee (Departments of Pathology, Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Boo Yeong (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital)
  • 서현우 (분당제생병원 성형외과) ;
  • 김효성 (분당제생병원 성형외과) ;
  • 하기영 (분당제생병원 성형외과) ;
  • 한은미 (분당제생병원 병리과) ;
  • 김부영 (분당제생병원 성형외과)
  • Received : 2011.02.15
  • Accepted : 2011.04.05
  • Published : 2011.04.10

Abstract

Purpose: The focal ossification of auricular cartilage is an unusual clinical entity in which the ear becomes partially or totally rigid and immalleable. This condition may result from cold injury, local trauma, inflammation, or various systemic diseases. Patients may feel mild discomfort, but there are usually no other serious symptoms. We present a case of focal ossification of auricular cartilage in which the cause is unknown. Methods: A healthy 58-year-old man presented with a 2-year history of hard mass of right posterior auricular area. He denied any precipitating historical events like cold injury and inflammation. Routine testing did not demonstrate systemic abnormalities. Ultrasonographic examination revealed a $22{\times}10{\times}11mm$ sized heterogenous isoechoic mass showing an acoustic shadow. Results: Excisional biopsy was performed under local anesthesia. Histological examination revealed the ossification with deposition of trabecular bone in normal elastic cartilage. The patient was healed without any problems and satisfied with the result. Conclusion: We report clinical experience of focal ossification of auricular cartilage, which is quite a rare clinical entity. It should be considered that there is the possibility of ossification of cartilage when it meets the benign mass of the ear.

Keywords

References

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