Congenital malformations that usually occur at anterior margin of the ascending limbs of the helix of the external ear
M/C congenital malformation of 1st brachial arch
Developmentally, the external ear develops from six eminences on the mandibular and hyoid margin of the first external groove. Failure of the tubercles to fuse with each other or failure of some of these tubercles (hillock) to grow normally may produce a variety of external ear malformation such as congenital preauricular sinus.
Clinical features
Preauricular sinus is usually asymptomatic unless it is infected.
Preauricular sinus abscess of the right ear. | Adegbiji, W. A., Alabi, B. S., Olajuyin, O. A., & Nwawolo, C. C. (2013). Presentation of preauricular sinus and preauricular sinus abscess in southwest Nigeria. International journal of biomedical science : IJBS, 9(4), 260–263.
Clinical presentations of preauricular sinus abscess are usually recurrent ear discharge, pain, swelling, itching, headache and fever. Other congenital anomalies such as hearing loss or renal problem of 1.7% and 2.6% respectfully are usually associated with preauricular sinus.
Diagnosis made by referring Physicians. All our studied patient with preauricular sinus abscess were treated with antibiotic and analgesic to treat acute infection and pain. Seventeen (81.0%) had surgery, which are excisional biopsy in 3 (14.3%) and incision with drainage in 16 (76.2%) to relief abscess. Recurrent cases were noticed to be high and it depend on treatment modalities. This was 95.2% with antibiotic, 68.8% with incision and drainage and 0% excisional biopsy. | Adegbiji, W. A., Alabi, B. S., Olajuyin, O. A., & Nwawolo, C. C. (2013). Presentation of preauricular sinus and preauricular sinus abscess in southwest Nigeria. International journal of biomedical science : IJBS, 9(4), 260–263.
