Bump in ear cartilage

[kidder014]

For about the past 3 or 4 months, I've had a bump in my ear cartilage, near the top of my ear. It is located inside my ear, just below the upper fold of my ear. I originally thought it was a pimple or something, and tried popping it, but nothing would ever come out. I've quit messing with it since.

Now it looks like a blister or even a skin colored mole, but it is very hard, like a lump. It doesn't hurt, it's not sore, it's just there.

At my last mole-check, the dermotologist looked at it and diagnosed it as acne, but this was right after I had been trying to pop it, so it really didn't look like it normally does. She said regardless, it was nothing to be concerned about, and gave me some topical anti-biotic to put on it. I did so, and it healed, but healed back into this lump again.

I don't think it is acne. It doesn't seem to have any pus in it. Plus it has been 3 to 4 months now and it hasn't gone away. I don't have any ear piercings, so that isn't the cause.

Any suggestions?

FYI I'm 26 white male.

Thanks!

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the symptoms it sounds like an epidermoid cyst. It is a benign cyst which can be caused by a blocked pore adjacent to a body piercing. It needs to be excised when infected/painful or when cosmetically causing problems. My sincere advice would be to discuss this possibility with your dermatologist.
I hope it helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing. Kind regards.

[kidder014]

Thank you for replying to my question.

I went back to the dermatologist today, and she said she could not rule out basal cell carcinoma and ordered a biopsy.

What, if any, concerns should I have should this turn out to be basal cell carcinoma?

She said that it appeared more to her as an inflammed mole, but it had some chatacteristics of basal cell carcinoma which is why she wanted to do the biopsy, just to be sure.

Is basal cell carcinoma common among people my age, 26?

Thanks!

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer which is malignant but does not metastasize. It is mostly found in people more than 40 years of age and usually is found on the face. But confirmation can only be done after biopsy and histopathological examination. Please go ahead with the biopsy that your dermatologist ahs planned for you.
Hope it helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries. Kind regards.