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Meckel's cartilage remnant?
Author(s) -
Zonis Richard D.
Publication year - 1969
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 - 10.1288/00005537-196911000-00010
Subject(s) - medicine , mastoid process , anatomy , malleus , auricle , meatus , asymptomatic , physical examination , eardrum , surgery , curette , sinus (botany) , ear canal , middle ear , stapes , radiology , botany , biology , genus
CASE REPORT. A 12‐year‐old, full blood Pima Indian boy was referred to the otology clinic of the Phoenix Indian Hospital complaining of “something in my ear” found on routine physical examination. The boy had no past or present symptoms related to either ear. On physical examination the right ear was normal. The left revealed a slender, firm, skin‐covered process extending from the anterior canal wall bulge, tapering to a narrow insertion on the malleus, just inferior to the short process (Fig. 1). The tympanic membrane was otherwise normal and moved well on pneumo‐massage. Audiogram was normal (Fig. 2), as were X‐rays of the mandible and temporo‐mandibular joints. Although the boy was asymptomatic, it was felt that the chance of difficulty with accumulation of debris medial to this process was sufficient to advise surgical removal. On December 27, 1967, under general anesthesia, the attachment to the malleus was severed with a sickle knife and the anomalous process removed with a curette. It was softer in consistency than expected. Pathologic examination revealed normal cartilage (Fig. 3). Postoperative course was uneventful. The tympanic membrane was not disturbed. Hearing was unchanged.