Imaging of glomus tympanicum tumors / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the imaging diagnosis value of glomus tympanicum tumors.Methods Images of 10 patients with surgically and pathologically confirmed glomus tympanicum tumors were reviewed.The image characteristics and diagnostic value were summarized.Results In 8 patients with high resolution CT scan and 2 patients with routine CT scan,soft tissue nodules within the tympanic cavity were identified on axial or coronal images in 7 of them.And in 3 patients with chronic tympanitis,glomus tympanicum tumors were not differentiated on CT images.Eight patients had undergone MR examination,on T2WI the tumors were moderate hyperintense(n=6)and hyperintense(n=2),and the tumors were enhanced obviously after contrast.In 3 patients with chronic tympanitis,moderate high signal of the tumor can be differentiated with the high signal of tympanitis on T2WI.On contrast MRI,the signal of enhanced tumor or unenhanced tympanitis was identified clearly.Conclusion On diagnosis of glomus tympanicum tumors,MRI is prior to CT,especially in patient with glomus tympanicum and tympanitis.