Synovial chondromatosis of the middle ear: a rare differential diagnosis to cholesteatoma

Synovial chondromatosis (SC) is a rare benign disorder, usually found in larger joints. This case report describes an elderly woman with a bulging mass behind the left eardrum, slowly progressing in size. On surgical exploration and biopsy, the patient was diagnosed with SC of the incudomalleolar joint. Imaging and histopathological findings, surgical management and follow-up are being discussed. SC is a very rare finding in the middle ear and a differential diagnosis to cholesteatoma.