Isolated preauricular pits and tags: is it necessary to investigate renal abnormalities and hearing impairment?

We investigated the incidence and co-existence of hearing impairment and renal abnormalities in healthy children with preauricular tags and pits. Study population consists of 13,740 primary school children from routine health check. Thirty-five children with preauricular tags and pits were noted. Control group consisted of 91 patients without pits and tags, who underwent renal ultrasound and were scheduled to pediatric outpatient clinic. Urinanalysis, renal ultrasound, otoacoustic emission were performed in both the groups. The prevalence of renal abnormality (1/36; 2.7%) and hearing impairment (1/36; 2.7%) in patients with preauricular tags and pits was similar to that of control group (3/91; 3.2% and 4/91; 4.3%) (P = 0.87, P = 0.64, respectively). According to our results, it is not necessary to investigate hearing or urinary abnormality in patients with preauricular tag or pit, unless there is an association of a syndrome or family history of hearing or renal impairment.