Occurrence of different external ear deformities in monozygotic twins: Report of 2 cases

Abstract

Summary: Microtia is a spectrum of congenital deformities, which varies from barely discernable to anotia. Twinning is a well-known risk factor for congenital defects including external ear deformities. Monozygotic twins usually show identical appearances as well as congenital malformations. In special conditions as ear deformities, “mirror-image” may also occur. We report 2 cases of monozygotic twins with different ear deformities. The 8-year-old propositus with lobule type microtia and her identical female twin presented with facial symmetry. Patient A had sausage-type right microtia with absence of external auditory canal. The left external ear showed normal appearance. Patient B presented with left-sided preauricular skin tag and right-sided malformation of tragus with skin tag combined with hyperplasia of underlying cartilage. A granule-size skin tag was also noticed at crus of right helix. A 7-year-old male patient with right-sided conchal type microtia presented to an ear reconstruction center. The patient’s mother showed normal auricular appearance. Her monozygotic twin sister, whose son and daughter had normal ear appearance was diagnosed with a left-sided lobule type microtia.