Fistula Preauricular Congenital

Congenital preauricular fistula (lat. Fistula praauricularis congenita, synonym - preauricular fistula) is a congenital malformation characterized by the presence of communication between the external auditory canal and the parotid region.

Etiology and pathogenesis

Preauricular fistula occurs as a result of impaired formation or closure of the embryonic urachuma.

Preauricular fistulas occur equally frequently in both sexes and can be unilateral or bilateral. They are most often localized on the posterior wall of the external auditory canal.

Depending on the direction of the fistula, fistulas are distinguished:

– superficial, when the fistula tract is located in the subcutaneous tissue;
– deep, when the fistula passes through the cartilaginous tissue of the auditory canal and the cavity of the middle ear.

With superficial fistulas, the fistula tracts are usually short and end blindly or open into the parotid region, while with deep fistulas they are longer and lead to perforation of the eardrum.

Most often, congenital preauricular fistulas are combined with other malformations of the ear and external ear, such as microtia, atresia of the external auditory opening, ectopia of the stapes, aplasia of the external ear.

Clinical picture

Superficial fistulas usually appear in early childhood as the discharge of serous secretions from the ear through the pinna. The fistula tract is located in the skin of the auricle, and it can be palpated, but it is not visible during external examination.

Deep fistulas appear at a later age, when the patient experiences a feeling of ear congestion, discharge of mucous secretion from the ear canal, and decreased hearing.

Fistula Preauricular Congenital is a pathological anastomosis between the unpaired and paired sinus openings, which can occur as a complication of various intrauterine infectious pathologies, such as rubella, influenza infection, viral infection of the mother’s placenta. Other names: congenital fustulo-aricularis, parotid vein fistulas

**Etymology of the name** The name comes from the Latin “fistula” - pipe opening and “prae” - in front and is supplemented by Latin nouns a