Bump in ear cartilage

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.

[Roey65]

I have been consulting with my dermatologist for several months about a similar ear bump - sounds like same location. He did a biopsy after cryotherapy failed to make it go away. It was benign. After the biopsy he gave me an oval contraption with an opening for the ear. It straps over my forehead and around my head, to wear at night, since I go to sleep on that side (left). It helped protect the ear while it healed. My dermatologist told me that the biopsy revealed some cartilage damage. I wore the headgear 4 weeks, stopped wearing it, and the sore opened up again. 4 weeks back on the headgear and it closed up; 3 weeks off, and it opened up again. Today I called my dermatologist and he sent me to see a plastic surgeon who specializes in face, ear, and neck surgeries, (which he had said he would do earlier if this did not clear up). This plastic surgeon happened to have a cancellation, so I saw her this afternoon. She said that what I have usually occurs in this (some medical term for it) sort of inner triangle of cartilage, whereas men are more likely to get it on the rim. She named the condition, (I should have written it down!). The 3-part name simply indicated that it was a nodule on the cartilage, with damage to the cartilage. It had a simpler name,
"Winkler's Disease," (although I did not write that down either, and happened on this website because I was trying to find the name for it. While writing this to you, I recalled the name, "Winkler"! Now I can do more research). The upshot is that she will cut a small triangle where this nodule is and remove the damaged cartilage, then suture it closed. She said that this is the result of sun damage that occurred before I was being so cautious about sun exposure (more than 5 years ago, she said. I am, by the way, about to turn 65).

Let me know if you find any more information on this, and I hope this turns out well for you.

Just Another Patient - Roey

[WKhan]

I've a similar problem and I'll do a biopsy in two weeks since I've a terrible headache on that side of the ear and my doctor wants to do an MRI of the brain before biopsy. Please tell me what was the result of your biopsy, I'm really nervous.

[thejwun]

I'll be praying for you WKhan.  I am currently waiting for a call back for the biopsy done on the small bump on my right ear in this exact location.  It could be within the next few hours or tomorrow.  I've had to wait all weekend.  Try not to worry and trust God.  He knows what is going on in you and He has full control to heal and protect.

[thejwun]

Mine turned out to be a benign piece of cartilage growing in my ear.  So thankful it was nothing serious.

[zoezoomorphist]

i have a similar problem but this lump hurts to touch and i dont have a gp cause i havent registered with one, it also itches allot can anyone help?

[vincebainbridge]

That's what my dermatologist said too.  But he didn't give options to get rid of it.  Did your doc have a treatment?  I see a bunch of remedies for cartilage bumps from piercing.  Will those work when there was never a piercing?