To　identify　the　candidate　chromosomal　region　for　congenital　preauricular　fistula　(CPF)　through　analysis　of　an　affected　Chinese　family.Conventional　linkage　analysis　using　short　tandem　repeats　(STR)　markers　was　performed　to　investigate　three　chromosomal　regions　8q11.1-q13.3,　1q32-q34.3　and　14q31.1-q31.3.None　of　16　STRs　could　attain　a　LOD　score　of　more　than　-2.0　(theta=0).　Therefore,　the　three　regions　were　all　excluded　as　the　candidate　region　for　the　disease.CPF　features　high　genetic　heterogeneity.　The　family　may　have　a　causative　gene　elsewhere.　Whole-genome-based　study　is　needed　to　identify　its　genetic　etiology.