[Cystic chondromalacia of the auricle. A case report. Review of the literature].

Cystic chondromalacia is a clinical and histopathological entity which can be clearly distinguish from all other cystic lesions of the auricle. We report a case which was clinically asymptomatic and involved the scaphoid fossa of the anterior surface of the pinna. The pathological process consisted of degenerative changes of the auricular cartilage which produced a cavity containing a serous fluid. No etiologic factor was found, in particular no trauma. The posterior wall of the cyst was excised under local anesthesia. This case allowed us to review the clinical, histopathological features and surgical difficulties of this rare lesion.