Mediterr. J. Otol 2007; 3:(3) 170-175

Verrucous Carcinoma of the Auricula: An Uncommon Lesion

M. Zafer Uguz, Veli Aydogdu, Bilge Turk, Demet Etit

First Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic and the Department of Pathology, Izmir Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey, aydogdu.md@gmail.com

Verrucous carcinoma is a locally invasive and nonmetastasizing variant of squamous cell carcinoma that is characterized by distinct clinical and histologic features. It develops most frequently on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and larynx. The development of this tumor in the ear is particularly rare. We report a 45-year-old woman who presented with an enlarging malodorous mass on her right auricula. Physical examination revealed a round, lobulated, infected, necrotic mass (5 × 5 × 3 cm) on the anterior surface of the auricula from the helix to the antitragus. The entire mass was surgically removed. The results of histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of verrucous carcinoma, a lesion that  rarely develops within the auricula. A full-thickness biopsy is necessary to ensure the correct diagnosis, and surgery is the treatment of choice; the use of radiotherapy remains controversial. A diagnosis of verrucous carcinoma should be considered in any patient with an auricular mass.