Keratosis obturans: Difference between revisions
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==Diagnosis== | ==Diagnosis== | ||
* CT scan of temporal bones may reveal canal erosion and widening. | * CT scan of temporal bones may reveal canal erosion and widening<ref name="pmid22180115">{{cite journal |author=McCoul ED, Hanson MB |title=External auditory canal cholesteatoma and keratosis obturans: the role of imaging in preventing facial nerve injury |journal=Ear Nose Throat J |volume=90 |issue=12 |pages=E1–7 |year=2011 |month=December |pmid=22180115 |doi= |url=}}</ref>. | ||
* Sugical specimen after surgery should be sent for pathology testing to rule out malignancy. | * Sugical specimen after surgery should be sent for pathology testing to rule out malignancy. | ||
Revision as of 15:07, 18 July 2012
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Raviteja Guddeti, M.B.B.S[2]
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
Clinical features
- Partial hearing loss
- Associated sinusitis or bronchitis may be present.
Diagnosis
- CT scan of temporal bones may reveal canal erosion and widening[1].
- Sugical specimen after surgery should be sent for pathology testing to rule out malignancy.
Treatment
- Surgical removal forms the main stay of treatment
- canal plasty - in case of recurrence
- Mastoidectomy - in the Primary auditory canal cholesteatoma type