Congenital pre-auricular sinus. A study of 31 cases seen over a ten year period

Management of congenital preauricular sinuses 5 years experience

“…Management of this congenital anomaly is difficult due to the controversies regarding surgical indications, and a tendency for recurrence rig. t. Inc )upra-aurtcutar approacn (elliptical incision is extended postauricularly) or persistence, (Emery, 1981) …”

The preauricular sinus: A review of its aetiology, clinical presentation and management

“…Preauricular sinus may lead to the formation of a subcutaneous cyst that is intimately related to the tragal cartilage and the anterior crus of the helix. In all cases, part of the tract blends with the perichondrium of the auricular cartilage [32]. The sinus tract is lateral and superior to the facial nerve and parotid gland, in contrast to the tract of an anomaly of the first branchial cleft, which tends to be intimately related to these structures.…”

“…The most frequently cited and generally accepted theory attributes the development of a preauricular sinus to incomplete or defective fusion of the six auditory hillocks [1,10]. The other, less well-known and published theory, is that the sinus develops as a result of isolated ectodermal folding during auricular development [11,12]. The preauricular sinus is often confused with a branchial fistula.…”

Preauricular Sinus: A Novel Approach

“…Topographically, the sinus is located more superficially than the temporalis fascia, laterally and superiorly from the parotid gland and facial nerve in contrast to the tract of an anomaly of the first branchial cleft, which tends to be intimately related to these structures. In all cases, part of the tract blends with the perichondrium of the auricular cartilage [5]. Most sinuses are clinically silent, eventual, however not rare, appearance of symptoms is related to an infectious process.…”