Pleomorphic adenoma of the external auditory canal: a case report and review of the literature.

Pleomorphic adenomas of the external auditory canal (EAC) are benign tumors of the ceruminal glands; they are a rare entity. Arising from the lateral cartilaginous portion of the EAC, these lesions can be challenging to diagnose in view of their rare clinical presentation, indolent symptoms, and a lack of familiarity on the part of histopathologists. We report the case of a pleomorphic adenoma in a 32-year-old woman, and we review the literature on glandular neoplasms of the EAC, with particular emphasis on terminology and factors that can hinder the diagnosis.