Bilateral External Auditory Exostoses Causing Conductive Hearing Loss: A Case Report and Literature Review of the Surfer's Ear

Authors

Dennis A. Barbon, Frank H. Netter, Md School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University.
Rahul Hegde, Department of Radiology, Yale New Haven Health at Bridgeport Hospital.Follow
Shuo Li, Department of Radiology, Yale New Haven Health at Bridgeport Hospital.Follow
Ahmed Abdelbaki, Diagnostic Radiology, Yale New Haven Health at Bridgeport Hospital.Follow
Divyansh Bajaj, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Vincent Medical Center, Bridgeport, Ct.

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Cureus

Abstract

In patients with repeated exposure to cold water, such as cold water surfers and kayakers, the reactive exostoses can occur in the external auditory canal. The external auditory canal exostoses are multiple, benign bony growths. They can cause external auditory canal stenosis, leading to repeated otitis externa and potentially conductive hearing loss. It is vital to consider this entity in susceptible patients who report hearing loss, as timely intervention such as proper ear protection equipment can lower the risk of developing severe external auditory canal exostoses. We present a case of a 42-year-old male, cold water surfer with conductive hearing loss and bilateral external auditory canal (EAC) stenosis demonstrated on the computed tomography.

First Page

e1810

DOI

10.7759/cureus.1810

Publication Date

10-30-2017

Recommended Citation

Barbon, Dennis A.; Hegde, Rahul; Li, Shuo; Abdelbaki, Ahmed; and Bajaj, Divyansh, "Bilateral External Auditory Exostoses Causing Conductive Hearing Loss: A Case Report and Literature Review of the Surfer's Ear" (2017). Radiology. 44.
https://scholar.bridgeporthospital.org/radiology/44

Identifier

29308338 (pubmed); PMC5749938 (pmc); 10.7759/cureus.1810 (doi)