A Case of Ceruminous Adenoma Arising from the External Auditory Canal / 고신대학교의과대학학술지

Ceruminous adenoma is a benign neoplasm of the ceruminous gland, and its development in human external auditory canal is very rare. Due to the limited number of cases, controversy still exists about nomenclature, classification, diagnosis and its treatment. Recently we experienced a 55 years old woman who was diagnosed with ceruminous adenoma of the external auditory canal, and who was treated with wide excision. So we report this uncommon case in combination with a review of the literature.

The Distributional Characteristics of Mast Cells in the Skin of the Human External Auditory Canal / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES : Mast cells are abundant at environmental barrier sites enabling quick reactions to any harmful events. Host defense in the skin may be occupied by the secretions from gland cells of the external ear canal skin. The aim of this study was to localize mast cells in the canal skin and compare it with that found in the ceruminous and sebaceous glands. MATERIALS AND METHOD : The distribution of mast cells (tryptase, chymase) in the external auditory canal skin of the human was observed histologically by means of immunostaining with ABC complex method after fixation with 4% paraformaldehyde solution. RESULTS : Mast cells were confined mainly to a dermal layer just beneath the outer layer of keratinizing stratified squamous epithelium. The mast cells also distribute densely in the deeper layer of the dermis of the canal skin more than in the superficial layer. Most of the mast cells were found adjacent to ceruminous glands though some lay scattered in the region of sebaceous glands. CONCLUSION : These findings of increased mast cell localization in the deep dermis rather than in the superficial dermis, as well as their concentration around the ceruminous glands, raise the possibility of an interaction between glands and mast cells.

Ceruminous Gland Tumors: 5 cases report

Tumors of the ceruminous gland are rare. However, careful histologic evaluation and classification are necessary for the proper treatment and ultimate prognosis. We present 5 cases of ceruminous gland tumors. Case l (73/M) and case 2 (52/M) were adenoid cystic carcinoma. They presented with protuding masses in the left external auditory canal for several months. Case 3 (76/M) was a mucoepidermoid carcinoma of auditory canal, who presented with right ear swelling. The mass recurred 3 years after the surgical resection and combined radiation therapy. Case 4 (60/F) and case 5 (2l/F) were ceruminous adenoma, which showed diffuse or focal areas of glandular structures with one-or two-layer of eosinophilic columnar to cuboidal cells and sometimes with myoepithelial cells. These tumors showed non-infil-trative growth pattern and lack of mitosis, and had no capsule.