Preauricular sinus and cyst
| Preauricular sinus and cyst | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Congenital auricular fistula, Congenital preauricular fistula, Ear pit,: 782 or a Preauricular cyst |
| Preauricular sinus on right ear | |
| Specialty | Otorhinolaryngology |
Preauricular sinuses and preauricular cysts are two common congenital malformations. Each involves the external ear. The difference between them is that a cyst does not connect with the skin, but a sinus does. Frequency of preauricular sinus differs depending the population: 0.1–0.9% in the US, 0.9% in the UK, and 4–10% in Asia and parts of Africa.
Preauricular sinuses are inherited features, and frequently appear next to both ears. Preauricular sinuses can be associated with other defects that are not visible, one example being branchio-oto-renal syndrome.