The patient is a 20 yo college wrestler with a one week history of a painless swelling in the right ear. The area outlined is fluctuant but not inflamed.
This is an auricular pseudocyst. It is overly optimistic to think that simple drainage will ensure cure. A number of therapies have been proposed.
For an excellent (and reasonably succinct) review of this subject see eMedicine/Pseudocyst.
This patient was referred to a plastic surgeon -- I will put an addendum after I learn of the therapy. The problem is that most dermatologists do not have enough experience treating this entity. Inadequate treatment can result is a permanent deformity of the auricle.
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