Ear
External ear tumors - benign / nonneoplastic
Keratosis obturans
Author: Nat Pernick, M.D.
Last author update: 1 October 2013
Last staff update: 16 May 2022
Copyright: 2002-2023, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Keratosis obturans
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Case reports | Treatment | Microscopic (histologic) description | Differential diagnosisCite this page: Pernick N. Keratosis obturans. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/earkeratosisobturans.html. Accessed June 3rd, 2023.
Definition / general
- Accumulation of keratin debris deep within external auditory canal, which may cause bone remodeling and inflamed epithelium
- May cause severe erosion of petrous bone (Br J Radiol 1975;48:170)
Case reports
- Patient with atypical keratosis obturans (J Laryngol Otol 2003;117:725)
Treatment
- Removal of keratin plug
- Surgery not required
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Tightly packed keratin squames in lamellar pattern
- Diffuse acanthosis and hyperkeratosis of skin of canal with underlying chronic inflammatory infiltrate
- No osteonecrosis, no overlying epithelial loss
Differential diagnosis
