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. 2010 Apr 5:10:4.
doi: 10.1186/1472-6815-10-4.

Cholesterol granuloma presenting as a mass obstructing the external ear canal

Vasilios Nikolaidis  1 , Hariklia Malliari, Dimosthenis Psifidis, Spyridon Metaxas
Affiliations

Cholesterol granuloma presenting as a mass obstructing the external ear canal

Vasilios Nikolaidis et al. BMC Ear Nose Throat Disord. .

Abstract

Background: Cholesterol granuloma (CG) may involve the middle ear, the mastoid bone and the petrous apex. However, CG presenting as a mass obstructing the external ear canal (EEC) is relatively rare and it can be a diagnostic challenge.

Case presentation: We report a case of a CG occupying the mastoid antrum and presenting as a mass into the EEC. Temporal bone computerized tomography showed a soft tissue mass which eroded the posterior-superior bony wall of the EEC. On magnetic resonance imaging, the mass revealed a high signal on both T1 and T2-weighted images. The CG was removed by a mastoidectomy procedure and the histopathologic report confirmed the diagnosis of CG. A type III tympanoplasty was performed.

Conclusions: The postoperative course was uneventful.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Cholesterol granuloma occupying the posterior- superior part of the external ear canal.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Temporal bone CT (coronal) showing a soft tissue mass occupying the mastoid antrum and part of the external ear canal. Arrows indicate the mass expanding into the external ear canal.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Temporal bone CT (axial) showing a soft tissue mass occupying part of the external ear canal. Arrows indicate the mass into the external ear canal.
Figure 4
Figure 4
T1-weighted temporal bone MRI showing a homogenous mass with increased signal intensity relatively to the brain. Arrows indicate the mass.
Figure 5
Figure 5
T2-weighted temporal bone MRI showing a homogenous mass with increased signal intensity relatively to the brain. Arrows indicate the mass.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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