A case of nodular fasciitis in the auricular cartilage

Abstract

Nodular fasciitis is an inflammatory benign disease mainly composed of proliferating fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. Since this lesion shows rapid growth, it is important to distinguish it from malignant tumors, such as sarcoma. We herein report a case of nodular fasciitis of the left concha of auricle. A 20-year-old man had a habit of touching his ears. His previous doctor detected an easily bleeding mass lesion filling the external auditory canal from the left concha. It was surgically removed but recurred, so he was referred to our department. The pathological diagnosis was nodular fasciitis, but the tumor re-growth was rapid, and infiltration to the surroundings was suspected on imaging, so total excision was performed with a sufficient excision area. The postoperative pathological result was also nodular fasciitis, and the course was good, with no recurrence noted at seven months after surgery.