Which condition is a bilateral benign bony growth of the external ear most commonly found in individuals with a history of cold-water swimming?

Which condition is a bilateral benign bony growth of the external ear most commonly found in individuals with a history of cold-water swimming?

• A. Cholesteatoma
• B. Exostosis
• C. Otitis externa
• D. Otosclerosis

Answer: (B)

Exostosis of the external auditory canal, often called surfer’s ear, is the concept here. Repeated cold-water exposure causes the bone in the ear canal to grow, producing multiple, broad-based, benign bony outgrowths that commonly appear in both ears. These exostoses narrow the canal and can lead to conductive hearing loss or recurrent infections by trapping debris, though many people are asymptomatic. This pattern—bilateral, benign bone growth in the ear canal linked to cold-water swimming—matches the described condition. Cholesteatoma, by contrast, is a destructive growth in the middle ear or mastoid caused by keratinizing epithelium and chronic negative pressure; otitis externa is an infectious/inflammatory condition of the ear canal; otosclerosis is abnormal bone remodeling of the middle ear ossicles, typically presenting with conductive hearing loss but not as exostoses in the external canal.

Exostosis of the external auditory canal, often called surfer’s ear, is the concept here. Repeated cold-water exposure causes the bone in the ear canal to grow, producing multiple, broad-based, benign bony outgrowths that commonly appear in both ears. These exostoses narrow the canal and can lead to conductive hearing loss or recurrent infections by trapping debris, though many people are asymptomatic. This pattern—bilateral, benign bone growth in the ear canal linked to cold-water swimming—matches the described condition.

Cholesteatoma, by contrast, is a destructive growth in the middle ear or mastoid caused by keratinizing epithelium and chronic negative pressure; otitis externa is an infectious/inflammatory condition of the ear canal; otosclerosis is abnormal bone remodeling of the middle ear ossicles, typically presenting with conductive hearing loss but not as exostoses in the external canal.