A Facility-based Study of Preauricular Sinus Among Adults in Southwest Nigeria

Background: Preauricular sinus (PAS) is common among the blacks and it presents in different manners. The perceptions of adult patients with PAS may influence the management strategies deployed. Objectives: To determine the perceptions of adult patients who have PAS about the disorder and describe the modalities of presentation. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted at the ENT Clinics over nine months. Using a questionnaire, socio-demographic information, perception of patients on the cause, concerns, modality of treatment, inclination to surgery and perceived complications of surgery were explored. Examination findings of the sinuses, including results of audiological investigations were recorded. Results: The prevalence of PAS was 7.4% (56/754) and the mean age of the subjects was 43.9±10.6 years. Multiple causes of PAS were perceived by 58.5% of the patients, 13.2% were not concerned but intermittent symptom was experienced by 43.3% of the patients. More than half (52.8%) believed the sinus could be treated medically with drugs, 86.8% perceived complications from surgical excision while 73.6% abhorred surgical excision. Half of the PAS was in the left ear while 11.3% were bilateral. Audiological evaluation revealed 46.4% of patients had evidence of sensorineural hearing loss while 56.5% had abnormal middle ear functions. Conclusions: Some adult patients had wrong perceptions of PAS and most patients abhorred surgical excision. The clinical presentations were mostly of the classical type, with almost two-thirds violated. There may be a need for genetic studies on PAS in future research.