Angioleiomyoma of the Auricle: An Unusual Tumor on a Rare Location

Abstract

Cutaneous angioleiomyomas (ALMs) (also known as vascular leiomyomas or angiomyomas) are unusual benign tumors of the skin deriving from the muscle layer of dermal blood vessels. They usually manifest as tender subcutaneous nodules, mostly encountered on the legs of adult women in their fifth or sixth life decade. ALMs rarely develop on the head/neck area, and even more rarely (<3% of all cases) on the auricle. Head/neck (including ear) ALMs differ from their more usual leg counterparts in that they are usually painless and do not show a female predominance. The diagnosis is clinically difficult, and most cases are diagnosed by histopathologic examination. A new case of an auricular ALM in a 40-year-old Caucasian man is reported herein, and a brief literature review on this unusual tumor is presented.

Cutaneous angioleiomyoma of the auricle: a painless variant of a painful tumour

“…Over a period of 16 years (1999–2015) in a dermatopathology lab in France, only 36 cases of ALMs were diagnosed. Of those cases, two were on the ear 4. In a larger study of 562 ALMs, auricular ALMs made up 2.8% of the total cases 2.…”

Rare benign tumour at an unusual site-angiomyoma of the ear: a case report and literature review

“…Angioleiomyomas (also known as vascular leiomyomas or angiomyomas) are derived from the muscle layer of dermal blood vessels. 1 They manifest typically as solitary, deep dermal, or subcutaneous flesh-coloured, wellcircumscribed nodules usually located on the lower legs of adult women. Minor trauma, venous stasis and hormonal changes, especially estrogen could be some of the reasons for its occurrence.…”

Painful Papules on the Arms

“…8 Angioleiomyomas appear as welldemarcated dermal to subcutaneous tumors composed of smooth muscle cells surrounding thick-walled vaculature. 9 Scrotal and vulvar leiomyomas are composed of eosinophilic spindle cells, though vulvar leiomyomas have shown epithelioid differentiation. 10 Nipple leiomyomas appear similar to piloleiomyomas on histology with interlacing smooth muscle fiber bundles.…”