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Dermatology
New tender, bleeding papule on the left ear
  1. Emma Beagles1,2 and
  2. Allen Shih1,2
  1. 1Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
  2. 2Department of Dermatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
  1. Correspondence to Emma Beagles; emmakeay{at}hms.harvard.edu

Abstract

Chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis (CNH) is a painful, inflammatory condition that impacts the skin of the ear. It is commonly associated with pressure on the pinna causing a nodule that may have erythema, bleeding and exudate. We present a case of a woman in her 60s with a history of basal cell carcinoma who presented with a new tender spot on the antihelix of her left ear. The tenderness of the new spot forced her to switch from holding her phone to her left ear to using her right ear. A shave biopsy confirmed CNH and ruled out non-melanoma skin cancer. Although most prior cases report association with sleeping on the side of the affected ear, this case was attributed to cell phone use. It is important to remember that non-traditional sources of pressure can also lead to CNH.

  • Wound care
  • Dermatology
  • General practice / family medicine

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2023-258101

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors The following authors were responsible for drafting of the text, sourcing and editing of clinical images, investigation results, drawing original diagrams and algorithms, and critical revision for important intellectual content: EB and AS. The following authors gave final approval of the manuscript: EB and AS.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.