External Auditory Canal Atresia Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Rahul K Shah; Chief Editor: Glenn C Isaacson, MD, FACS, FAAP   more...
 
Updated: Oct 11, 2011
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

Goldenhar syndrome (hemifacial microsomia)

Acquired external auditory canal (EAC) stenosis

Assessment for other craniofacial abnormalities (important for implications in anesthetic management, particularly for perioperative airway obstruction)

Treacher-Collins syndrome

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Rahul K Shah  MD, FACS, FAAP, Associate Professor of Otolaryngology and Pediatrics, Medical Director, Peri-operative Services, Children's National Medical Center, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences; Attending Physician, Department of Otolaryngology, Children's National Medical Center

Rahul K Shah is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Medical Quality, American College of Physician Executives, American College of Surgeons, Massachusetts Medical Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Triological Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Udayan K Shah, MD  Associate Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Pediatrics, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University; Director, Fellow and Resident Education in Pediatric Otolaryngology, Attending Surgeon, Division of Otolaryngology, Nemours-AI duPont Hospital for Children

Udayan K Shah, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Bronchoesophagological Association, American College of Surgeons, American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology, International Society for Optical Engineering, Pennsylvania Medical Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Ear, Nose and Throat Advances in Children

Disclosure: Gyrus-ACMI Royalty Device development; Reiseman, Rosenberg LLC Consulting fee medico-legal case review

Specialty Editor Board

Orval Brown, MD  Director of Otolaryngology Clinic, Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

Orval Brown, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Bronchoesophagological Association, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Society for Ear, Nose and Throat Advances in Children, and Society of University Otolaryngologists-Head and Neck Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mary L Windle, PharmD  Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John E McClay, MD  Associate Professor of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Children's Hospital of Dallas, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School

John E McClay, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons, and American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Paul D Petry, DO, FACOP, FAAP  Consulting Staff, Freeman Pediatric Care, Freeman Health System

Paul D Petry, DO, FACOP, FAAP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Osteopathy, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians, and American Osteopathic Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Glenn C Isaacson, MD, FACS, FAAP  Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Pediatrics, Temple University School of Medicine

Glenn C Isaacson, MD, FACS, FAAP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Bronchoesophagological Association, American College of Surgeons, American Laryngological Rhinological and Otological Society, American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology, and Society of University Otolaryngologists-Head and Neck Surgeons

Disclosure: Covidien Honoraria Consulting

References

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Photograph of the right ear in a patient with unilateral external auditory canal atresia is shown. Note the relatively normal pinna and thumb print concha.
Audiogram of a 5-year-old girl with right unilateral external auditory canal atresia (EACA) is shown. The audiogram demonstrates a right conductive hearing loss seen by the difference in hearing levels between the red triangles and the black brackets. The left ear hearing levels shown by the blue line are normal. This child demonstrated good function at home and in preschool and did not require intervention at this point.
Audiogram 1 year later of the same child as in the image above. Her functioning in kindergarten continues to be excellent, and she has noticed hearing improvement at home. Her physical examination shows a pinpoint opening at the external auditory canal (EAC) now, and this audiogram confirms improved hearing in the right ear compared to the prior audiogram (see image above). Her right conductive hearing loss is shown by the distance between the black brackets and the red triangles.
CT scan in the axial plane of right unilateral external auditory canal atresia (EACA) is shown. The right external auditory canal (EAC), to the left of this photo, is not developed compared to the normally developed left EAC. The image is slightly tilted in the horizontal plane.
CT scan showing unilateral auditory canal atresia in coronal section of the right ear. No ear canal is seen to the left of this picture (patient's right).
 
 
 
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