Keratosis obturans

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Raviteja Guddeti, M.B.B.S[2]

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Overview

Keratosis obturans is accumulation of desquamated keratin in the external auditory meatus. It is common in young patient population.

Pathophysiology

Keratosis obturans is thought to occur due to abnormal epithelial migration of ear canal skin. The movement of the surface epithelium appears to be reversed in these patients. These keratin squames are shed from the complete circumference of the deep ear canal forming a lamina. It appears like onion skin. There exists 3 types of Keratosis obturans depending upon the pathology. They are:

• Inflammatory type - it may be caused due to viral infection
• Silent type - it is caused by abnormal separation of the keratin of the ears
• Primary auditory canal cholesteatoma - it is caused by trauma to the external ear canal. Hearing impairment is not found in this type of keratosis obturans.

Risk factors

• Sinusitis
• Bronchiectasis

Clinical features

• Partial hearing loss

• Otalgia

• Otorrhoea

• Associated sinusitis or bronchitis may be present.

Treatment

• Surgical removal forms the main stay of treatment

• canal plasty - in case of recurrence

• Mastoidectomy - in the Primary auditory canal cholesteatoma type

References

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