Ceruminous Gland Tumors

Abstract

THE LINING of the external acoustic meatus is lined with skin that is continuous with the auricle. The part of this skin covering the cartilaginous portion of the meatus (8 mm long) contains hair follicles, sebacous glands, and modified sweat glands or ceruminous glands. In the longer bony portion, the aforementioned skin structures are absent. Arising from the narrow confines of the cartilaginous portion and corresponding histologically to the ceruminous glands, a special form of tumor, the "ceruminoma," has been described. Relatively common in lower animals, especially the dog and the cat, tumors of ceruminal gland origin are rare in man. This report is a clinicopathological assessment of ceruminomata, based on a review of the literature^1-6 and experience with two previously unreported cases of ceruminoma treated at the University of Michigan Medical Center. Report of Cases Case 1.—A 71-year-old white woman was first seen at the University of Michigan