Defferential diagnosis (DD) of aural polyp

- It is mainly of two types: safe and unsafe.

- Safe type can be managed with medical treatment and keeping the ear dry. Hearing loss (if significant may be overcome by tympanoplasty or hearing aid).

If the patient is unable to keep his/her ears dry (e.g. professional swimmers), tympanoplasty is mandated.

If the ear is continuously discharging, cortical mastoidectomy must be added to the surgical procedure.

- Unsafe type (cholesteatoma) is always a surgical condition. Medical treatment may play a role in preoperative preparation or postoperative care. The goal is to obtain a SAFE DRY ear.

1-Inflamatory:

 a- Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media CSOM (more with cholesteatoma)….explore and do polypectomy, then manage according to the case.

b-Polyp arising from the canal (inflammatory or neoplastic).

2-Neoplastic: 

a-Benign: glomus.

b-Malignant: carcinoma.

3-Miscellaneous: Eosinophilic granuloma.