Chondrodermatitis nodularis chronica helicis

The ear nodules ( nodular Chondrodermatitis helix or Winklersche disease) is a benign cartilage disease, which is suspected to be a pressure ulcer, but its exact cause is unknown. Usually at the upper edge of the human ear cartilage occur up to pea-sized, often very painful changes with wallartigem edge, which can enclose a horn cone. In rare cases, the range of the inner surface of the ear is affected. The disease was first described in 1915 by the Swiss dermatologist Max Winkler.

Cause

As a cause of inflammation of the cartilage, a chronic stimulus is thought, for example, local pressure during sleep and calling patterns. The influence of solar radiation is discussed.

Therapy

Padding of the skin area affected can lead to pain relief and healing. In most cases, however, permanent cure is only possible by generous surgical removal of cartilage affected area. In this case, a wedge-shaped district of the ear is removed and sutured the cut edges again. Removal of skin lesion with a histologic examination is therefore recommended because the Chondrodermatitis otherwise can not be distinguished with sufficient certainty of malignancies such as basal cell carcinoma.

Swell

• Dissertation by Kristine Mørch - winter, Bonn 2008
• Altmeier, P.: Encyclopedia Dermatology

• Skin disease