Glandular neoplasms represented 14% of primary tumors of the external and middle ear at the University of Minnesota. Although the collective term "ceruminoma" has been used in the past, four distinctive histopathologic patterns were recognized among our 12 cases: adenoma (four cases), pleomorphic adenoma (one case), adenoid cystic carcinoma (two cases) and adenocarcinoma (five cases). The prognosis correlated with these subgroups. A thorough review of the English literature also tended to support the rationale for the subclassification of so-called ceruminomas. The prevailing histogenetic view is that these tumors are derived from the modified apocrine glands of the auditory canal, the ceruminous glands. In some instances, these tumors may originate from ectopic salivary gland tissue.