Auricular endochondral pseudocysts: diagnosis and management.

The auricle can be the site of a variety of cystic lesions, many of which involve either potential spaces between the auricular cartilage and the perichondrium or spaces within the skin and subcutaneous tissues. An auricular endochondral pseudocyst is a fluid collection located within the cartilaginous structure of the auricle. The auricular hematoma and the auricular pseudocyst may represent opposing ends of a continuum of damage and repair of traumatic insults. Whereas the hematoma represents a significant acute traumatic event resulting in cleavage between the perichondrium and the cartilage, the pseudocyst could be the outcome of chronic lower grade trauma. In this instance, the perichondrium not only separates from the cartilage but may be induced to regenerate an outer cartilaginous wall exacting the contour of the separated perichondrium, thus completing a cartilaginous auricular pseudocyst. This firm, cartilaginous outer cyst wall accounts for the increased difficulty in treating pseudocysts and clearly requires a different surgical treatment than for the hematoma. Having reviewed a substantial number of case reports, we recommend incision and drainage of the cavity followed by obliteration of the cavity by curettage, sclerosing agent, and pressure dressing. More invasive techniques should be reserved for an uncommon recurrence after adequate initial treatment.

Primary amyloidosis presenting as massive cervical lymphadenopathy with severe dyspnea: a case report and review of the literature.

Amyloidosis is an end point of several diseases in which the unifying characteristic is the association and extracellular deposition of the insoluble protein fibrils within various tissues and organs. We have discussed a variety of clinical findings of primary amyloidosis with emphasis on its otolaryngologic manifestations. This case represents the second report in the literature of a neck mass resulting from a plasma cell dyscrasia and the first report of AL disease producing such extensive cervical lymphadenopathy as to cause significant respiratory compromise.