A case of large auricular lymphangioma

Lymphangioma has been known to develop in head and neck region. However, lymphangiomas origin from the auricular region is extremely rare, and has been reported only once in the English literature. Here, we introduce a case of large lymphangioma that originated from the posterior aspect of the auricle. An 18-month-old boy visited our hospital with a palpable mass growing on the posterior aspect of the auricle from the age of 6 months. Radiological studies showed a lobulated mass on the superoposterior aspect of the right ear, which was thought to be a hemangiolymphamgioma. As hemangiomas usually regress spontaneously, we observed this mass closely for about 1 year. There was no noticeable regression of the mass, which appeared multi-septated in imaging studies. We decided to excise the mass rather than perform sclerotherapy. The multilobulated mass, originating from the posterior aspect of the auricle extending to the anterior parotid area, was excised completely and was confirmed to be a lymphangioma pathologically. Here, we report this rare lymphangioma originating from the posterior aspect of the auricle with a literature review.