An unusual myofibroblastic proliferation of the pinna

Abstract

AbstractIntroduction:Myofibrosis of the ear is rare. Myofibromas are mesenchymal tumours which usually present in infancy but have been reported sporadically in adults.Objective:To present a rare case of trauma as a cause of pinnal myofibrosis.Design and method:Case report. A 29-year-old soldier suffered repeated trauma from helmet wear and sports, and presented to our clinic with an exquisitely painful lump in the anti-helix of the pinna.Results:The lump was excised uneventfully. Pathology revealed a reactive myofibroblastic proliferation which, given the history of trauma, raised the possibility of a florid cellular repair process. The main differential diagnosis was myofibroma. Immunohistochemistry was used to exclude other possible causes.Conclusion:No similar case has previously been reported. The aetiology of myofibroma is unclear, but repeated trauma may be a trigger. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis are recommended when the diagnosis is ambivalent.