A Dicey Diagnosis: Pre-auricular Swelling of Tubercular Origin

Pre-auricular sinuses are congenital malformations that typically develop at the anterior margin of the ascending limb of the external ear's helix. They are not uncommon ear anomalies, and since they are typically asymptomatic, they are not frequently diagnosed. Tuberculosis is a major infection that affects both children and adults around the world, resulting in substantial morbidity and mortality. They are most common in the extra pulmonary area, where lymphadenitis is the most common clinical manifestation. Lymph nodes, mostly cervical, mediastinal, and axillary and inguinal nodes, are often involved. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis is difficult to diagnose since there are no constitutional signs and a high degree of clinical suspicion is needed. Here, is a rare case presented by an adult male with infected pre-auricular sinus coexisting with lymphadenitis in right pre-auricular region.