Get relief from Pre-auricular pits & sinuses with EarSurgeon, Dr. Shree Rao
Dr. Shree Rao who has vast experience in handling preauricular pit / sinus conditions, elaborates that a preauricular pit or sinus is a small hole or cyst just in front of the ear above the ear canal. The hole marks a sinus tract under the skin that is wrongly located. Most people don’t know that they have a pit till it is revealed in a routine ENT examination or when they consult the doctor about an ear infection.
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WHAT IS A PREAURICULAR PIT OR SINUS?
Some people have a small abnormal pit or hole that looks like a dimple or piercing, just in front of the ear and above the ear canal. This is called a preauricular pit or sinus and is a condition that one is born with. It occurs when the ear doesn’t fully develop before birth. It is usually considered harmless as it doesn’t cause any health problems. However, if you notice a pit in front of your ear, it is best to consult an ENT specialist who can give you the right medical advice.
If you have this condition or know someone who does, here is what Dr. Shree Rao, top Ear surgeon of Hyderabad has to say about pre-auricular pits and sinus, treatment for the problem and surgery.
HOW DOES A PREAURICULAR PIT OCCUR?
Dr. Shree Rao explains that those who have
preauricular pits are born with it. The condition occurs in the womb during the first 2 months of gestation when the ear is formed but doesn’t fully develop. It’s a common malformation and is considered harmless. Sometimes it is genetic with family members having the condition.
In case a newborn baby has a Preauricular pit, the doctor might look for other irregularities and underlying conditions.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF PREAURICULAR PITS / SINUS?
Dr. Shree Rao assures that most people who have a Preauricular pit /Sinus don’t have any symptoms or hearing problems. Some people experience pain at times, which can be alleviated by applying pressure to the earlobe for some time.
At times, however, a preauricular abscess may form. In this condition, the pits get infected and there are chances of the formation of a cyst with pus oozing from it.
WHAT ARE THE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH PREAURICULAR PITS?
These pits or sinuses are usually associated
with Branchiootorenal syndrome –
a condition that affects the development
of tissues in the neck and causes malformations of the ears and kidneys.
It can also be a result of the Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome – an overgrowth condition where creases or pits in the
skin near the ear grow to an abnormally large size.
When the pit gets infected and forms a cyst it is called a preauricular abscess and has the following symptoms:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Pain
- Fluid discharge
- Fever
.
Sometimes people might have recurring infections from an abscess or cellulitis. An abscess is a collection of pus that builds up in the area. Cellulitis is a potentially serious skin infection. Some people might also get cysts that grow under the skin near the pit that becomes red and swollen, when infected.
Dr. Shree Rao has performed numerous preauricular sinus procedures at Dr. Rao’s ENT, South Asia’s best dedicated ENT hospital situated in Hyderabad.
According to Dr. Shree Rao, one of the most well-known pre-auricular sinus specialists in Hyderabad, the biggest complication that can occur if you leave preauricular pits untreated is infection. The hole can become infected, and in some cases, a condition called preauricular sinus may set in, where the infection goes deeper, into the external auditory canal or all the way behind the ear too.
As a specialist in the preauricular pits /sinus condition, Dr. Shree Rao opines that most people never have symptoms that require intensive treatment. However, should the need arise one can follow these routines:
Antibiotics: If a preauricular pit has a smelly discharge or other symptoms of infection, make sure to consult an ENT specialist and take the prescribed antibiotics regularly until the course is completed as per the prescription.
Home treatment: A preauricular pit infection can be managed at home with basic treatment and antibiotics. Home treatment includes:
- Pain relievers
- Warm compress on the ear
- Cleaning the area of any discharge
- Avoid touching the infected area
Needle aspiration: In case the pit develops into an abscess, Dr. Shree Rao might insert a needle into it to collect fluid. The fluid will be tested for any type of bacteria, based on which the right antibiotics will be prescribed.
Drainage: In this procedure,
Dr. Shree Rao will use a sterile needle to drain the fluid and pus if the abscess isn’t responding to antibiotics.
Surgery: Dr. Shree Rao recommends sinus tract surgery in case there are continuous infections. This procedure is done under general anaesthesia using the best resources and facilities available at Dr. Rao’s ENT superspecialty hospital at KPHB, Hyderabad.
PREAURICULAR TAGS
Preauricular tags are benign congenital abnormalities consisting of mounds of skin located near the front of the ear that can be associated with other conditions. While skin tags are harmless, if you have one in front of your ear, it is best to consult a preauricular tag expert like Dr. Shree Rao, Ear Surgeon.
If you have a Preauricular tag or know someone who does, here are some frequently asked questions that Dr. Shree Rao, pre-auricular tag removal expert, provides answers for.
Dr. Shree Rao explains that the external ear forms early in development when six soft tissue swellings fuse together. When the soft tissue fuses together incorrectly, additional appendages may form in front of the ear. These are called preauricular tags and are made of skin, fat or cartilage.
Preauricular tags have the following characteristics:
- They don’t grow fast
- They are attached to the skin
- They are the same colour as skin
- They don’t hurt or leak fluids
Yes, tags are usually removed for cosmetic reasons. Surgical excision is sometimes the recommended treatment for skin tags. Dr. Shree Rao has vast experience in Paediatric ENT surgery and has successfully performed several excisions of preauricular tags in children, at Dr. Rao’s ENT, the only full NABH accredited ENT hospital in Hyderabad.
Dr. Shree Rao, Ear Surgeon will make an incision around the base of the tag and cut the cartilage stalk that is located below the surface of
the skin. This expert procedure avoids a cartilage bump. A small scar will be visible, but rest assured that your child will not require any
further treatment. The tags do not grow back after surgery.
In infants with a simple ear tag that does not contain cartilage, it may be removed in an easy and quick procedure using a local anaesthetic
that is applied to the skin to reduce pain.
Best Doctor for Pre-auricular Pits & Sinuses
About Dr. Shree Cuddapah Rao
Dr. Shree Cuddapah Rao is acclaimed as one of the Best Doctor for Pre-auricular Pits & Sinuses in Hyderabad. With 10+ years of deep domain experience in the field of ENT, she is the director at Dr. Rao’s ENT Super Specialty International Hospital.
Dr.Shree Rao underwent specialized training in Rhinoplasty / Facial Plastic surgery at Singapore General Hospital, Singapore. She also underwent advanced training in cochlear implant surgery under Padmashri Dr. Milind V Kirtane and has a Fellowship in cochlear implant. Having performed over 200 successful cochlear implants for patients from all over the world, Dr. Shree Cuddapah Rao is also the recipient of several prestigious accolades in the domain of ENT and considered as the best Cochlear Implant Surgeon in India.
General FAQs
Dr. Shree C Rao can be consulted on all days except Wednesday, subject to appointment availability. For checking availability, reach out to us over WhatsApp by clicking here or Enquiry form here.
Yes, one can opt for online consultation while getting an appointment.
Yes, International patients can consult Dr. Shree Rao virtually.
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We are very glad to share this experience, we came to Dr. rao's ENT hospital along with my kid who is 3 years old, kept some kind of foreign body in nose. in Rao's ENT hospital consulted with Dr. Shree madam, she is very nice doctor, in this hospital they have advanced equipments. Thanks to Shree madam.