Hemangiomas of the external auditory canal:a literature review and two new case reports

Aim The aim of this paper is to present two case reports of patients with hemangiomas of the external auditory canal, and to overview all cases published in English language literature so far. Methods Two patients with hemangiomas of the external auditory canal have undergone clinical and morphofunctional examination, surgical procedures, histopathological examination, and postoperative follow up. Results In a 38-year-old female patient transmeatal approach was used to remove the cavernous hemangioma of the external auditory canal. The postoperative period was eventless, with normal morphofunctional findings during a 5-month postoperative follow-up period. In the second patient, a 68-year-old female, a capillary-cavernous hemangioma was removed using retroauricular approach. Conclusion Cavernous hemangiomas are rare lesions of the external auditory canal. In the morphological diagnosis, computed tomography of the temporal bones is the leading diagnostic procedure, along with otoendoscopy and endocranial magnetic resonance imaging which are important in evaluation of the spread of the lesion. Biopsy of vascular lesions is not recommended. Complete surgical excision of hemangioma of the external auditory canal is the therapy of choice with a minor risk of hearing impairment.