A Case of Auricular Ossification

Abstract

Ectopic ossification refers to the process of new bone formation in sites that normally do not ossify. The auricle is composed of elastic cartilage, and hence is a pliable structure. Auricular ossification is a rare condition that might be caused by injurious processes, including frostbite, physical trauma, and inflammation as well as processes related to metabolic or endocrine disorders. Here, we report a case of unilateral auricular ossification in a 53-year-old Korean man who had previously rubbed his ear repeatedly with his hand.