SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF POSTAURICULAR EPIDERMAL INCLUSION CYST AFTER COCHLEAR IMPLANT SURGERY

Post auricular epidermal inclusion cyst after ear surgery are rare in clinical practice and such condition post cochlear implantation is not yet reported in the literature.We are reporting management of two cases of post auricular epidermal inclusion cyst occurring few years after cochlear implantation with a functional implant insitu. OBJECTIVE To highlight the occurrence of post operative epidermal inclusion cyst in patients with cochlear implantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS Two cases with post aural cystic lesion post cochlear implantation surgery reported between 2017 to 2019 at a referral centre are highlighted. They were aged 8 and 13 years old and had cochlear implant surgery done 5 and 8 years prior to onset of swelling. Both cases were managed surgically. RESULTS Post cochlear implant swelling at surgical site is always a matter of concern. Both patients underwent FNAC and CT which were suggestive of epidermal inclusion cyst. Total excision was done with no evidence of recurrence. CONCLUSION Post auricular EIC are very rare after cochlear implant and should be kept in differential diagnosis of post auricular swelling years after surgery and can be differentiated from seroma by location and FNAC. EIC can be safely excised after cochlear implant surgery without compromising the implant. KEYWORDS Cochlear Implant, post uricular cyst, epidermal i n c l u s i o n c y s t , v e r i a , C o c h l e a r i m p l a n t complication.