Association between ear-picking habits and carcinoma of external auditory canal

Abstract

Carcinoma of the external auditory canal (EAC) is a very rare disease. Although a relationship between frequent ear-picking and EAC carcinoma has been suspected, no statistical analysis has been reported. We retrospectively reviewed ear-picking habit in patients with carcinoma of EAC and in healthy Japanese people and statistically analyzed the data. As a result, in the“ younger ( under 50 years old)” group, both“ frequency” and“ materials” showed a significant difference between the patients and the healthy population( p=0.0021 and p=0.0012, respectively). Ear-picking more than once a day and with hard materials might be risk factors for carcinoma of EAC in the younger generation.