Nasopharyngeal Polyp External Ear Canal

There are several clinical presentations of nasopharyngeal polyps. To understand this we must realize that the origin of the disease is the middle ear. The cause of these polyps is not known. As they grow, they can exit the middle ear through the external ear canal of the Eustachian tube. The disease can be bilateral but is most often unilateral in presentation. If the polyp grows into the external ear canal, unilateral otitis externa is the presentation. This will always recur after cessation of therapy since it is the physical presence of the polyp in the ear canal that is the predisposing factor. Removal of the polyp from the ear canal is possible but this does not get its origin and recurrence in the ear canal can occur. Continue presence of the polyp in the middle ear may or may not present clinical signs that we recognize. Ventral bulla osteotomy (VBO) is employed to remove offending tissue from both compartments of the feline middle ear.