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Tracing the Origins of “Cauliflower Ear” and Its Earlier Names over Two Millenia
Author(s) -
Mudry Albert,
Jackler Robert K.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.29055
Subject(s) - misnomer , deformity , bilateral symmetry , auricle , anatomy , medicine , biology , surgery , engineering , mechanical engineering , paleontology
Objectives The post‐traumatic ear deformity, known today as cauliflower ear, has been described since antiquity. It has long been associated with pugilistic sports (wrestling, boxing) as well as among the mentally ill. The aim of this study is to present the various terms used since antiquity to describe these traumatic deformations of the auricle and to trace the origin of the modern moniker “cauliflower ear.” Methods Historical study, only based on original documentation accessed through personal libraries and universities repositories, completed with online sources and etymological dictionaries. Results We were able to identify no fewer than 39 names for the deformity. The term cauliflower ear is of relatively recent origin. It was coined in the first decade of the 20th century, initially in the popular press and subsequently adopted by the medical profession. Conclusion Ironically, the deformity has only superficial resemblance to a cauliflower. The vegetable, which is part of the cabbage family, has a symmetrical and highly ordered fractal geometry with well‐circumscribed excrescences. Cauliflower ear, by contrast, notably lacks symmetry and its rounded protuberances flow into one another. Although somewhat a misnomer, the term is deeply rooted in both popular and medical culture. Level of Evidence N/A Laryngoscope , 131:E1315–E1321, 2021