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If there is a mysterious little hole above your ear, you are a unique owner of fistula preauricularis, or a preauricular fistula. This is a type of congenital defect that affects 1 in 100 babies born. Interestingly, having a fistula usually has no consequences, but sometimes it causes unpleasant inflammation.
- A fistula is a telltale sign that is located just above the ear
- It can be seen with the naked eye
- In most cases, it is not dangerous to your health and does not need to be alarming
- More current information can be found on the Onet homepage.
Having a preaural fistula usually doesn’t affect our life and is not associated with any symptoms. Sometimes, however, the fistula becomes inflamed, which manifests itself in unpleasant ailments.
Preaural fistula – what is it and what does it look like?
A preauricular fistula (fistula preauricularis) is a small hole or depression in the soft tissue around the outside of the ear. The exact location of the fistula is above the top of the labrum of the auricle. The fistula occurs statistically in 1 out of 100 people, it is more common in women and dark-skinned people. In medicine, it is classified as a birth defect.
Typically, the preauricular fistula has a blind end in the soft tissues of the ear area. In rare cases, a fistula may end with a cyst reaching the fascia of the temporal muscle and fill with purulent contents. Such a lesion can become bacterially superinfected and cause recurrent inflammation. Fistula inflammation is manifested by local pain, tissue thickening and redness. Preaural fistula discharge may also develop.
Further part under the video.
Diagnosing a preauricular fistula is usually not demanding and is successful after a physical examination and identification of the characteristic hole above the ear. In some cases, additional diagnosis is needed to rule out other skin lesions or diseases associated with this birth defect. The most frequently prescribed tests are: ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging or fistulography.
The treatment and diagnosis of preauricular fistula is performed by an otolaryngologist, and in the case of a decision to remove it – by a surgeon.
The causes of the formation of a preaural fistula
A preaural fistula is a congenital defect that occurs early in the fetal life during the formation of the auricle. The abnormalities occur as a result of incomplete connection of the embryonic elements: three caudal mounds, the 6st gill arch with three head mounds, and the XNUMXnd gill arch. The formation of these elements occurs around the XNUMXth week of pregnancy.
The etiology of this disorder is not fully known, it is assumed that some factors to which a pregnant woman may be exposed may increase the risk of such a defect. These include the effects of ionizing radiation, viral or bacterial infections, nutritional deficiencies, the effects of certain toxins or the side effect of medications. A preaural fistula may also appear due to the inheritance mechanism and may be of genetic origin.
The defect also occurs as one of the disorders in the course of other genetic syndromes. Especially in the case of the BOR ensemble, the BOS ensemble and the tetralogy of Fallot.
Is preaural fistula dangerous?
The presence of a preauricular fistula is one of the most common congenital anatomical defects and should not be alarming. The frequency of occurrence is between 1 and 2 in every 100 babies born. The sizes of a fistula can vary widely. Usually, the occurrence of a defect is not associated with any ailments or dysfunctions. It happens that the fistula is bilateral, which is rare and requires further diagnosis. Bilateral preaural fistula may be a symptom of other birth defects. In the case of a bilateral preaural fistula, diagnostics of the outer ear, inner ear and kidneys should be performed.
Preaural fistula treatment
In most cases, the defect does not cause any diseases or ailments. However, it should be monitored to exclude the appearance of inflammation. If the area where this mysterious hole is is swollen, swollen, red, or there is discharge (fluid may give off an unpleasant odor), appropriate treatment is required as inflammation has developed. If the inflammation is recurrent or cystic, surgical removal of the fistula is usually suggested. Surgery is best performed in a clinic with extensive experience in the treatment of this type of defect, because it requires a lot of precision.