Intradermal melanocytic nevus of the external auditory canal

case report and literature review

Abstract

Introduction: Nevi are benign melanocytic neoplasms and are the most common types of skin tumors. They can occur anywhere on the skin, but the appearance in the external auditory canal is very rare. There are only a fewer than 50 cases described in English literature regarding melanocytic nevus of external auditory canal and, in Brazil, only one case was reported in 2005. Objective: To present a case of intradermal melanocytic nevus in external auditory canal and to discuss a conservative conduct, different from the other cases already reported in the literature after a review of this. Importance of the problem: To alert the scientific community about the possible differential diagnoses of lesions in the external auditory canal and risks of manipulation of this, in front of a benign and asymptomatic lesion. Comments: We emphasize the possibility of conservatively conducting an asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic lesion, provided that any suspicion of malignancy, malignant transformation or other differential diagnosis, that requires a more invasive intervention, is ruled out, since a meatoplasty could bring more damage (meatal stenosis) than benefits for the patients, including for the presented in this report.