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Sonography of the Ear Pinna

Department of Radiology, Clinica Servet and Clinica Hospital del Profesor, Santiago, Chile (X.W.); and Department of Dermatology, Roskilde Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark (G.B.E.J.).

Address correspondence to Ximena Wortsman, MD, Department of Radiology, Clinica Servet, Almirante Pastene 150, Providencia, Santiago, Chile. E-mail: xwo{at}tie.cl

Objective. This study was undertaken to assess the scope of sonography for the diagnosis of diseases of the external ear. Methods. We developed a description of the sonographic anatomy of the normal ear pinna, including the thickness of the normal cartilage and lobule, through systematic scanning of the external ears of 11 healthy volunteers (2 male and 9 female), and reviewed clinical cases with pathologic entities. Results. Reproducible and recognizable images were collected from normal as well as pathologic cases of the external ear. Images are presented for reference. Conclusions. Sonography permits good visualization of the internal structure, including the cartilage, and it is possible to use sonography as a method of study to differentiate between inflammation, vascular lesions, and tumors.

Key Words: ear sonography • external ear imaging • pinna sonography • skin sonography • vascular tumor sonography