What are the treatments for the condition?

A benign ear tumor with no symptoms needs to be watched. Surgery may be needed if there is hearing impairment or chronic otitis externa.

Treatment for some ear cysts requires surgery. If they are small, they can be removed through the ear canal. If they are large, the base of the skull must be opened. The eardrum is lifted and the cyst is removed. Some cysts may return after surgery. Sometimes additional reconstructive surgery is needed.

What are the side effects of the treatments?

Surgery may cause bleeding, infection, or allergic reaction to anesthesia. Other possible side effects include hearing impairments, perforation of the eardrum, vertigo, or damage to a facial nerve.

What happens after treatment for the condition?

Antibiotic and corticosteroid ear drops are often used to help the skin in the ear canal heal. If benign tumors are removed from the eardrum or the middle ear space, the ear canal is packed with materials and ointments. Repeat visits to the surgeon to remove the material and check on healing may be needed.

How is the condition monitored?

After a benign ear growth is removed, no further treatment is necessary in most cases. Hearing tests two to three months after the operation can detect hearing impairment. The person's healthcare provider may also check periodically to see if another growth has developed.

Those with certain types of cysts need to be followed closely, because the problem can return. Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to the healthcare provider at once.