Extraskeletal Chondroma in the Auricle

Abstract

Extraskeletal chondroma is a rare benign tumor that develops in soft tissues, and histologically, it is a lobulated nodule surrounded by a fibrous capsule, and the inside consists of mature cartilage cells and diffuse hyalinized matrix. It occurs preferentially in the hand and foot area of adults, and the development in the head and neck area is very rare. We had a very rare case of extraskeletal chondroma that developed in the auricle and report the case together with a review of the literature.

Soft Tissue Tumors of the Head and Neck: Imaging-based Review of the WHO Classification

“…This tumor typically arises in the extremities but rarely is found in the neck, tongue, auricle, cheek, parotid gland, parapharyngeal space, and masticator space (81)(82)(83). It is thought that soft tissue chondroma develops from embryonal remnants ance with low to intermediate signal intensity on T1-weighted images, high signal intensity on T2-weighted images, and peripheral or septal contrast enhancement.…”

A Case of Auricular Chondroma

“…The etiology of extraskeletal chondroma is uncertain. The following are 3 hypotheses that have been proposed 2). The first hypothesis suggests of the cartilage cells originated from the skeletal structure migrating to the adjacent connective tissue; the second proposes a conversion of the precartilaginous tissues that are in the ligament attachment area at the activation period; the last hypothesis proposes a metaplasia of synovial cells differentiating as cartilagi-nous cells.…”

“…The case presented here is of a particular interest because of the exceptional location of the tumor, and a matter of reconstruction of a defect after the removal. We were unable to find any analogous report in the literature except for only two reports describing cases of extraskeletal chondroma in the auricle 2,3). In the presenting case, we report a rare case of chondroma that developed in the auricle, which were treated with wedge excision and reconstructed using a Burow's triangle.…”

“…Cli-nically, it manifests as a slowly growing subcutaneous nodule, and the diameter is less than 3 cm in most cases, with a development in the facial area reported very rarely. However, the presence of this tumor has been described in the head and neck region, mainly in the tongue, and less likely in the cheek, neck, parotid gland, parapharyngeal space, masticatory space, and masseter muscle,2) with the age of onset usually between 30-60 years of age. The case presented here is of a particular interest because of the exceptional location of the tumor, and a matter of reconstruction of a defect after the removal.…”

Chondroblastoma-like chondroma of soft tissue: A report of two cases

“…[1] Fewer cases have been identified in the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, larynx, masticatory space, dura, parotid, auricle, and fallopian tube. [2][3][4][5][6] The clinical history is usually a slowly growing process that is most often solitary, and rarely present with multiple lesions. They can occur at any age, but they are more frequent in adults with a slight male predominance.…”