Aural polyps: What's behind them?

Abstract

Introduction: Polyps in the external auditory canal (EAC) may be present due to inflammation induced by chronic otitis media. In many cases, the type of underlying otitis media is a cholesteatoma. Aim: The aim of this article is to determine the etiology of EAC polyps in patients referred to the Otology Division of a tertiary hospital in south Brazil. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted with a cohort of patients with otologic diseases who were evaluated from July 2001 to December 2020. Patients with unilateral or bilateral aural polyps underwent anamnesis and recorded video-otoscopy and had their online medical chart reviewed. Results:  Of the 2432 patients evaluated, 133 (5.4%) had a polyp in the external auditory canal. Of those, 53 were excluded, leaving a final sample of 81 patients (3.3%). Discussion:  Middle ear cholesteatoma (MEC) and non-cholesteatomatous chronic otitis media (NCCOM) were responsible for 86.3% of all polyps evaluated and the majority of diagnoses were established through surgery (76.5%). Conclusion: Symptoms associated with polyps and their aspect do not reveal the most probable etiologies making imaging exams, biopsy and surgery necessary steps in aural polyp investigation.