Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Outer Ear Anomalies
Number of Conditions: 1
Preauricular Pits or Tags
Specialty: Ear
Category: Congenital and Developmental Ear Disorders
Sub-category: Outer Ear Anomalies
Symptoms:
small indentations (pits) or skin tags near the ear; possible discharge if pits become infected; cosmetic concerns
Root Cause:
Developmental anomaly of the first and second pharyngeal arches during embryogenesis.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical examination at birth; imaging studies or genetic testing may be done if associated syndromes are suspected.
Treatment:
Surgical removal for cosmetic reasons or recurrent infections; antibiotics for infected pits.
Medications:
Oral or topical antibiotics like amoxicillin or clindamycin may be prescribed for infections.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Seen in approximately 0.1–0.9% of the population; more common in certain ethnic groups and typically isolated findings.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history, syndromic associations (e.g., Branchio-Oto-Renal syndrome).
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent; rarely impacts hearing or overall health when isolated.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Infection, abscess formation, or association with congenital syndromes in rare cases.