Erosive external otitis: a novel distinct clinical entity of the external auditory canal in nonimmunosuppressed individuals.

OBJECTIVE

We introduce erosive external otitis (EEO) as a novel erosive process of the external auditory canal in the absence of diabetes or immune suppression.

STUDY

DESIGN

Case series and literature review.

SETTING

Tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS: Primary eligibility criteria included patients who had an erosive process of their external auditory canal in the absence of diabetes or immune suppression.

INTERVENTION: Surgical debridement and split-thickness skin grafting.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Uneventful wound healing and disease-free long-term follow-up after surgical debridement and skin grafting.

RESULTS

Three cases of EEO in the absence of immune suppression or diabetes were diagnosed and treated. All patients required surgical debridement and skin grafting as part of their management. All recovered uneventfully from surgery and had no evidence of recurrence on long-term follow-up.

CONCLUSION

We propose that EEO, which occurs in the absence of immune suppression or diabetes, is a clinical entity that is distinct from the more commonly diagnosed malignant external otitis and that the management of EEO is primarily surgical debridement with skin grafting.