Metastatic rectal adenocarcinoma to the external auditory canal: Case report and literature review

Abstract

Metastasis to the head and neck region are unusual. The most common site of receiving those metastasis is the temporal bone, a site which is usually affected by tumors that spread to the bones. However, metastasis to the external auditory canal are infrequent. Only a few cases have been published in the literature. We report the case of a 81 year-old man with pain, tinnitus and right otorrhea. The otomicroscopy showed a polypoid lesion in the right ear canal. The biopsy showed an atypical proliferation of epitelial cells forming anomalous glands, which were positive for citoqueratine 20 and carcinoembryonic antigen. He was diagnosed with metastatic adenocarcinoma of colon- rectum nine years previously. Metastasis of colon adenocarcinomas to the external auditory canal are infrequent. Require a defferential diagnosis with metastatic adenocarcinomas of others locations but is always necessary to rule out primary tumors. Among these, the most challenging diagnostic is with ceruminous adenocarcinomas.