Q18.1: Preauricular sinus and cyst

You have a congenital defect in the tissue to the front of your ear or the side of your neck.

While developing in the womb, many different types of tissue develop in the body. The organs and body parts develop out of the various types of tissue. While developing in the womb, the tissue can change its form and its position in the body. Some tissues merge into one another. Other tissues also degenerate to some degree during development. If tissue fails to develop properly, defects can occur.

Defects in the face can take on different forms. A passage can form in the tissue to the front of the ear or in the neck, for example. The opening of a passage in the neck can be visible as a hole. But the opening of a passage can also be located inside the neck. If a passage comes to an end inside the tissue, it is called a sinus. If a passage goes through and joins two surfaces of tissue with one another, it is called a fistula. The defect may also take the form of a cyst. A cyst is a self-contained cavity in the tissue that is filled with fluid. From the outside, a cyst in the neck can seem to be a painless swelling.