Hidradenoma of the external auditory canal: clinical presentation and surgical treatment.

The aim of this article is to present clinical features, diagnostic procedures and surgical treatment of a rare ear tumor. We report a case of 78 year old female with hidradenoma of the external auditory canal. Patient had a sensation of pain and fullness with permanent ottorhea from the right ear for one year Temporal bone computed tomography showed a tumor of the external ear, 6 centimeters in diameter, without bone, temporomandibular joint or intracranial invasion; the tumor was limited medially by the tympanic membrane. Biopsy was performed and pathohistology finding was: hydradenoma nodulare atypicum. Surgical intervention and wide tumor removal in general endotracheal anesthesia was performed. One year after the surgery there was no sign of tumor recurrence. Hidradenoma is rare ear tumor arising from the epithelial cells of sweat glands of the external auditory canal. Radiological evaluation and pathohistology confirmation of hidradenoma is necessary and wide excision of the tumor is the treatment of choice.