Schwannoma of the External Auditory Canal: An Exceptional Location

Solitary schwannoma is a benign, encapsulated tumour of Schwann cell origin, therefore the olfactory and optic nerves are never affected. About 25%–45% of all schwannomas occur in the head and neck but schwannoma of the external auditory canal is a rare finding, and we have found only 6 previous cases reported in the literature world-wide. Our patient was discovered by chance during a stapedectomy because the tumour was sited in the external auditory canal without distorting it.

El schwannoma es un tumor benigno encapsulado que puede afectar a cualquier nervio del organismo que tenga células de Schwann, nunca al nervio olfatorio ni el óptico. Un 25–45% aparece en cabeza y cuello, pero en el conducto auditivo externo es excepcional, y solamente se han publicado en la literatura mundial otros 6 casos previos. Presentamos un caso descubierto accidentalmente al realizar la incisión en un conducto normal, no abombado, durante una estapedectomía.