gms | German Medical Science

External ear cholestatoma (EEC) is rare. For the development repeatetd inflammation, microtauma or previous ear surgery might be risk factors. They also can develop sponateously. A total of 25 patients with a EEC were treated between 2001 and november 2009 in the Department of Otolaryngology, AMEOS-Klinikum in Halberstadt. It's a retrospective case review. Twelve patients presented longstanding otorrhea retained squamous debris and cerumen. Twelve did not show any symptoms. One patient presented a lesion of the facial nerve. In seven patients we found a hyperplasia of the auditory meatal epithelium, one case bilateral. There were 18 patients with periosteitis, a destruction of the bony ear canal or a destruction of the adjacent anatomical structures. If we suspected a large distension we realized a computed tomography. During operation we found a destruction of the mastoid, an arrosion of the facial nerve canal or of the temporo-mandibular joint in 5 patients. The facial nerve palsy was declining after surgery. In one case we found a hearing loss after surgery. A recurens was not seen. EEC is rare. The main symptom is otorrhea. You can find a large destruction of the adjacent anatomical structures with possible facial nerve palsy. We propose an operation in any case.