Buikema Kathryn E, Adams Erin G
Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center, Fort George G. Meade, MD 20755, USA.
Case Rep Dermatol Med. 2012;2012:410601. doi: 10.1155/2012/410601. Epub 2012 Oct 15.
Calcification or ossification of the auricle, also referred to as petrified ear, is a rare diagnosis in dermatology. In medical literature, it has most often been attributed to trauma, hypothermia and frostbite, or hypercalcemia secondary to a metabolic or endocrine disorder, such as Addison's disease. Here, we report the clinical and radiologic findings of a 79-year-old African American male whose unilateral petrified auricle was an incidental finding. He had a preceding history of hyperparathyroidism and subsequent hypercalcemia treated with a subtotal parathyroidectomy three years prior to presentation. In addition to laboratory analysis, a history and physical examination was performed which revealed no other signs of hypercalcemia. Radiologic studies demonstrated partial ossification of the external auricular cartilage on the left side. The patient was diagnosed with the rare occurrence of a petrified ear. In light of this case, we provide a discussion concerning the possible etiologies of this diagnosis including appropriate patient evaluation and possible treatment recommendations.
耳廓钙化或骨化，也称为石化耳，是皮肤科一种罕见的诊断。在医学文献中，其最常归因于创伤、体温过低和冻伤，或继发于代谢或内分泌紊乱（如艾迪生病）的高钙血症。在此，我们报告一名79岁非裔美国男性的临床和放射学检查结果，其单侧石化耳为偶然发现。他有甲状旁腺功能亢进病史，在就诊前三年因高钙血症接受了甲状旁腺次全切除术治疗。除实验室分析外，还进行了病史和体格检查，未发现其他高钙血症体征。放射学研究显示左侧外耳道软骨部分骨化。该患者被诊断为罕见的石化耳病例。鉴于此病例，我们对该诊断的可能病因进行了讨论，包括适当的患者评估和可能的治疗建议。
