Go Back ENT/21. Temporal bone, Ear/Neoplasm, Neoplasm-like condition/21.3 - External canal Cholesteotoma/ Go to Index

External canal cholesteotomas are unilateral masses that cause smooth expansion or scalloping of the external auditory canal.

There may be bony flecks of calcium within the mass. More aggressive bony erosions may also occur which are difficult to differentiate from squamous cell carcinoma or inflammatory lesions.

Keratosis obturans causes smooth erosion but is usually bilateral.