Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Myofibrosis of the ear is rare. Myofibromas are mesenchymal tumours which usually present in infancy but have been reported sporadically in adults.

OBJECTIVE:

To present a rare case of trauma as a cause of pinnal myofibrosis.

DESIGN AND METHOD:

Case report. A 29-year-old soldier suffered repeated trauma from helmet wear and sports, and presented to our clinic with an exquisitely painful lump in the anti-helix of the pinna.

RESULTS:

The lump was excised uneventfully. Pathology revealed a reactive myofibroblastic proliferation which, given the history of trauma, raised the possibility of a florid cellular repair process. The main differential diagnosis was myofibroma. Immunohistochemistry was used to exclude other possible causes.

CONCLUSION:

No similar case has previously been reported. The aetiology of myofibroma is unclear, but repeated trauma may be a trigger. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis are recommended when the diagnosis is ambivalent.