Histopathological Spectrum of External Auditory Canal Lesions: Experience from a Tertiary Care Center

A BSTRACT Introduction: Lesions of the external auditory canal (EAC) encompass a range of conditions, including inflammatory, infectious, benign, and malignant conditions, which often exhibit overlapping clinical features such as otorrhea, otalgia, hearing loss, and aural fullness. Differentiating benign from malignant lesions is crucial, as management and prognosis differ significantly. This study aimed to evaluate the histopathological spectrum of EAC lesions in a tertiary care center. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 17 biopsy specimens of EAC lesions, submitted between October 2021 and October 2024, was conducted. Clinical and demographic data were retrieved from hospital records. Specimens were fixed in 10% formalin, routinely processed, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and reviewed by two independent pathologists for diagnostic accuracy. Results: Patient ages ranged from 7 to 81 years, with a male predominance (88%). The peak incidence occurred in the second decade of life, where nonneoplastic and benign lesions predominated, while malignant lesions were observed after the age of 40. Nonneoplastic lesions accounted for 64.7% of cases, with inflammatory aural polyps (29.4%) being the most common. Neoplastic lesions made up 35.3% of cases, equally divided between benign tumors, primarily osteoma (11.76%), and malignant tumors, represented solely by squamous cell carcinoma (17.65%). Conclusion: EAC lesions exhibit diverse histopathology, with benign lesions being more common in younger patients and SCC more prevalent in older individuals. Histopathology is essential for accurate diagnosis and management. Larger multicenter studies are needed.