In a prospective study covering a 2-year period, the ear auricle was distinctly imaged in lateral 99mTc-pertechnetate brain scintiphotos/scintiscans in 25 of 2500 patients submitted to routine brain scintigraphy. In 6 patients with initially unremarkable scintiphotos, ear rubbing resulted in scintigraphic ear imaging in the lateral projection, indicating auricular hyperemia as a significant cause of the phenomenon. The evaluation of activity in the temporo-parietal region in the lateral projections is a common problem in brain scintigraphy. Ear auricle activity seems to be a frequent explanation and the following procedure is proposed: In all cases where the lateral brain scintiphotos/scintiscans show increased activity in the temporo-parietal region, registrations should be repeated with the auricles folded forward/downward.