Syringocystadenoma papilliferum is a rare hamartomatous adnexal
tumor and appears mainly in the head and neck region. Rarely, such
tumors may appear in the external auditory canal. There are only 14 described cases of the
syringocystadenoma papilliferum in the external auditory canal in the Medline database. In this study, we present the first reported case of
syringocystadenoma papilliferum arising in the
modified radical mastoidectomy and occurring 12 years after ear surgery. A 26-year-old man was admitted to our clinic with complaints of discharge from the left ear, ear fullness, and
hearing loss. These symptoms had been worsening for 3 years. Twelve years previously, he had undergone
modified radical mastoidectomy by Bondy due to a
cholesteatoma. Otoscopic examinations revealed otorrhea and a reddish mass measuring 1 × 0.8 cm arising from the tegmen tympanum and fundus of the mastoid cavity. A surgical biopsy was conducted with
local anesthesia in the medical outpatient clinic, and it revealed
syringocystadenoma papilliferum. A
tumor resection was performed with a retroauricular approach. The bone attachment of the
tumor was drilled out, and the ear cavity was covered with a mashed split skin graft. The ear cavity healed, and no
tumor recurrence was observed during a 9-month follow-up period. Our case and literature analysis of previously described cases led to the conclusion that cases of
syringocystadenoma papilliferum of the external auditory canal may be associated with different medical histories, age distributions, and origins than other
syringocystadenoma papilliferums of the head and neck region. Tubular
adenoma may occur together with
syringocystadenoma papilliferum in 20% of cases. Malignant transformation of
syringocystadenoma papilliferum may occur but is extremely rare. Computed tomography imaging may predict
malignancy of the
tumor.
Tumors specific to the external auditory canal may occur in the
modified radical mastoidectomy after middle ear surgery.