Accessory tragus, also known as preauricular tags, are small skin tags or lumps of flesh that are present at the front of the ear, near the cheek. These tags are usually benign, meaning they are not harmful or cancerous. However, they can sometimes be a sign of an underlying genetic disorder, so it is important to have them checked by a doctor.
In this article, we will discuss the definition and types of the accessory tragus, along with their causes, symptoms, and treatment options.
Definition:
Accessory tragus refers to a small, benign growth of skin or cartilage that is present at the front of the ear, near the cheek. These tags are often present at birth, although they can also develop later in life. The tags may be round or oval in shape and can range in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters.
Types:
There are three main types of the accessory tragus, including:
- Isolated accessory tragus: This is the most common type of accessory tragus and refers to a single skin tag or lump of flesh that is present at the front of the ear.
- Accessory tragus syndrome: This type of accessory tragus is associated with other abnormalities or syndromes, such as Treacher-Collins syndrome or Goldenhar syndrome. These syndromes can cause a range of physical and developmental abnormalities.
- Familial accessory tragus: This type of accessory tragus is inherited and is often present in multiple family members. It is usually isolated and not associated with other abnormalities.
Causes
The exact cause of accessory tragus is not fully understood, but it is thought to be the result of abnormal development during fetal development. Here are possible causes of accessory tragus:
- Genetics: Accessory tragus may be inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. This means that the anomaly is caused by a single gene that is passed down from a parent to their child.
- Environmental factors: Exposure to certain environmental factors during pregnancy may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus. These factors include maternal smoking, alcohol consumption, and exposure to chemicals and toxins.
- Teratogens: Teratogens are substances that can cause birth defects. Exposure to teratogens during fetal development may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus. Examples of teratogens include thalidomide, retinoids, and valproic acid.
- Maternal infections: Maternal infections during pregnancy, such as rubella, cytomegalovirus, and toxoplasmosis, may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Abnormalities in embryonic development: Accessory tragus may be caused by abnormalities in embryonic development, such as failure of the first branchial arch to close properly.
- Chromosomal abnormalities: Certain chromosomal abnormalities, such as trisomy 18 and 22q11 deletion syndrome, may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Developmental abnormalities: Developmental abnormalities, such as cleft palate and lip, may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Fetal hydantoin syndrome: Fetal hydantoin syndrome is a condition that occurs when a fetus is exposed to the drug phenytoin. This condition may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Congenital heart defects: Some congenital heart defects, such as tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary stenosis, may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Intrauterine growth restriction: Intrauterine growth restriction is a condition in which a fetus does not grow properly in the womb. This condition may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Maternal diabetes: Maternal diabetes may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Maternal obesity: Maternal obesity may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Amniotic band syndrome: Amniotic band syndrome is a condition in which bands of tissue in the amniotic fluid can constrict and deform fetal body parts. This condition may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome: Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome is a condition in which blood flows unevenly between twin fetuses. This condition may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Gestational trophoblastic disease: Gestational trophoblastic disease is a condition in which abnormal cells grow in the uterus during pregnancy. This condition may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Maternal age: Older maternal age may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Maternal nutrition: Poor maternal nutrition may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Maternal stress: Maternal stress may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Maternal exposure to radiation: Maternal exposure to radiation during pregnancy may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
Symptoms
Possible causes of accessory tragus:
- Genetics: Accessory tragus may be inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. This means that the anomaly is caused by a single gene that is passed down from a parent to their child.
- Environmental factors: Exposure to certain environmental factors during pregnancy may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus. These factors include maternal smoking, alcohol consumption, and exposure to chemicals and toxins.
- Teratogens: Teratogens are substances that can cause birth defects. Exposure to teratogens during fetal development may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus. Examples of teratogens include thalidomide, retinoids, and valproic acid.
- Maternal infections: Maternal infections during pregnancy, such as rubella, cytomegalovirus, and toxoplasmosis, may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Abnormalities in embryonic development: Accessory tragus may be caused by abnormalities in embryonic development, such as failure of the first branchial arch to close properly.
- Chromosomal abnormalities: Certain chromosomal abnormalities, such as trisomy 18 and 22q11 deletion syndrome, may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Developmental abnormalities: Developmental abnormalities, such as cleft palate and lip, may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Fetal hydantoin syndrome: Fetal hydantoin syndrome is a condition that occurs when a fetus is exposed to the drug phenytoin. This condition may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Congenital heart defects: Some congenital heart defects, such as tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary stenosis, may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Intrauterine growth restriction: Intrauterine growth restriction is a condition in which a fetus does not grow properly in the womb. This condition may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Maternal diabetes: Maternal diabetes may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Maternal obesity: Maternal obesity may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Amniotic band syndrome: Amniotic band syndrome is a condition in which bands of tissue in the amniotic fluid can constrict and deform fetal body parts. This condition may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome: Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome is a condition in which blood flows unevenly between twin fetuses. This condition may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Gestational trophoblastic disease: Gestational trophoblastic disease is a condition in which abnormal cells grow in the uterus during pregnancy. This condition may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Maternal age: Older maternal age may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Maternal nutrition: Poor maternal nutrition may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Maternal stress: Maternal stress may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
- Maternal exposure to radiation: Maternal exposure to radiation during pregnancy may increase the risk of developing accessory tragus.
Diagnosis
Treatment
References
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