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Aural polyps

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Otic polyp

An aural polyp is a growth in the outside (external) ear canal or middle ear. It may be attached to the eardrum (tympanic membrane), or it may grow from the middle ear space.

I Would Like to Learn About:

  • Causes

    Aural polyps may be caused by:

    • Cholesteatoma
    • Foreign object
    • Inflammation
    • Tumor

  • Symptoms

    Bloody drainage from the ear is the most common symptom. Hearing loss can also occur.

  • Exams and Tests

    An aural polyp is diagnosed through an exam of the ear canal and middle ear using an otoscope or microscope.

  • Treatment

    Treatment depends on the underlying cause. Your health care provider may first recommend:

    • Avoiding water in the ear
    • Steroid medicines
    • Antibiotic ear drops

    If a cholesteatoma is the underlying problem or the condition fails to clear, then surgery may be needed.

  • When to Contact a Medical Professional

    Contact your health care provider if you have severe pain, bleeding from an ear or a sharp decrease in hearing.

Related Information

     
Open References

References

Chi DH, Tobey A. Otolaryngology. In: Zitelli, BJ, McIntire SC, Nowalk AJ, Garrison J, eds. Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 24.

Chole RA, Sharon JD. Chronic otitis media, mastoiditis, and petrositis. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 140.

McHugh JB. Ear. In: Goldblum JR, Lamps LW, McKenney JK, Myers JL, eds. Rosai and Ackerman's Surgical Pathology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 7.

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Review Date: 5/30/2022  

Reviewed By: Josef Shargorodsky, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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