Anatomy
- Cartilagenous structure
- Opening: ear canal
- Retroauricular fold
- Hélix
- Anthelix
- Concha
- Anti-tragus
- Lobule
- At the level of the antihelix, concha and external auditory canal, the skin adheres closely to the cartilage
- The external auditory canal contains numerous sebaceous glands, which open into vellus hair follicles, and apocrine (ceruminous) glands
- Earwax is a mixture of sebum and the secretion of these apocrine glands, it has a modest antibacterial and antifungal effect
- Outward excretion of earwax and exfoliated epidermal cells from the ear canal is partly explained by chewing
Tumor and Tumor-like lesions
Accessory TragiOthematomaPseudocyst of the auricleChondrodermatitis Nodularis Helicis | Nódulo Doloroso da Orelha (Winkler)Retroauricular Fissured Acanthoma
Tumor | Location |
CEC | Helix and anthelix |
CBC | Concha and retroauricular region |
Epidermoid cysts | • Retroauricular sulcus • Lobule (sometimes associated with CPAP headgear) |
Hiperplasia angiolinfoide | Around the ear and pinna |
Linfocitoma da Borrelia | Earlobe |
Cicatrizes queloides | Earlobe, complication after earpiercing |
Ceruminous tumors | External auditory canal, may lead to obstruction and pain |
Xanthogranuloma | Lobules |
Gouty tophi | Top of the helix |
Inflammatory
- Generalidades:
- Etiologia: infection vs. aseptic inflammation
- Anatomy
- Pinna & earlobe
- Is the lobule also affected? Earlobe doesn’t have cartilage
- Is the cartilage thickened and painful?
- Is the epidermis intact? (suggests deep inflammation) Or is there oozing, blisters, scabs? (suggests superficial inflammation)
- Deep involvement
- Erisipella
- Sinal de Millian:
- na pinna (auricle) não há linfáticos profundos, portanto a sua afeção só pode ser por erisipela e não por celulite
- Tratamento
- Antigamente tudo na face era internado
- Hoje em dia, uma celulite do pavilhão auricular deve baixar o limiar para internar mas não quer dizer automaticamente. Pode se considerar alta com uma dose de AB reforçada e seguimento mais apertado
- Dar quinolonas pelo risco de pseudomonas do canal auditivo
- Eczema seborreico do canal auditivo pode ser uma porta de entrada. Pode se dar daktacort ou travocort (pele do pavilhão auricular é mais espessa que a da face)
- Condrite
- Superficial involvement
- Impetigo - from retroauricular sulcus or piercing
- Ganglion geniculatum zoster (Ramsay Hunt Syndrome)
- Concha
- seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, “microbial eczema”
- Lupus discoide
- Earlobe
- Extension of canal or retroauricular intertrigo
- Complication of piercing or wearing metal earings
- Eritema pernio (frost bite)
- Helix
- Photosensitivity → juvenile spring photodermatosis
- Bazex syndrome
- Retroauricular sulcus
- Retroauricular intertrigo
- Irritant contact dermatitis from glasses and/or hearing aids
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Atopic dermatitis
- Psoriasis
- May have secondary infection (staph, strep)
- External auditory canal: Otitis externa
- Erysipella
- Eczema do pavilhão auricular