Significance of Clinico-Pathological Correlation of Various Ear Masses – A Study at a Tertiary Care Hospital of Western Gujarat

Introduction: A good number of cases of ear masses are diagnosed by clinical information alone, but in a significant number of cases, histopathological correlation is needed for accurately diagnosing the condition. Therefore, all types of small masses in the ear require incisional or excisional biopsy with histopathological examination.

Aims and Objectives: The study was aimed at knowing the distribution of ear masses in various age groups and different genders and showing the histo-pathological spectrum of ear masses.

Methodology: A study of 50 patients attending the Ear, Nose, and Throat Department was done, and specimens were collected from them and subjected to histopathological examination. These masses were further classified as inflammatory, benign, and malignant lesions, and the frequency of their occurrence in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat (Western India), their age and sex distribution were observed.

Observations: The most common lesions were inflammatory polyps, followed by cholesteatomas and chronic non-specific inflammations. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common type of malignant lesion, followed by embryonic rhabdomyosarcoma; carcinoid tumour and nevus were diagnosed on histopathological examination in benign lesions.Right-side masses were more common than left-side masses, and males were more affected than females.

Conclusion: Ear masses affect all age groups, but males are affected more than females. Adolescents and children were more affected by benign lesions than adults, while the opposite was true for malignant lesions.