A 23-year-old white male of Mediterranean descent was referred to our department with a 5-week history of progressive swelling of the left ear. He denied pruritus or pain and was otherwise well. No antecedent of trauma was found. He worked as a sports coach and played football twice a week. His medical history was unremarkable. He was first diagnosed with auricular chondritis and prescribed oral amoxicillin; however, after taking the drug for 10 days there was no improvement. Physical examination showed a noninflammatory, painless swelling on his left ear, 2 to 3 cm in diameter, located on the scaphoid fossa.
The most likely diagnosis is
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Relapsing polychondritis
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Chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis
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Othematoma
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Auricular pseudocyst
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Cellulitis
Answer on page 272
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