Blue laser for the exclusive endoscopic transcanal approach to middle ear paraganglioma.

BACKGROUND: The management of glomus tympanicum tumours can be challenging. Blue laser coagulation may improve bleeding control thus facilitating an endoscopic transcanal excision. The objective of this presentation is to illustrate the authors' experience using this novel tool. METHODS: Case report of a patient that underwent exclusive endoscopic transcanal blue laser surgery of a class A2 glomus tympanicum tumour in a tertiary referral center. CONCLUSION: The present study provides evidence of the safety and efficacy of endoscopic blue laser surgery, for the minimally invasive treatment of early-stage glomus tympanicum tumours.

A blue middle ear mass: Cholesterol granuloma mimicking a glomus tumor and endolymphatic sac tumor.

Cholesterol granuloma (CG) is the most common benign lesion of the petrous apex, however, it can grow significantly large and become destructive causing a diagnostic dilemma. This case presents a 25-year-old female with 2-year history of left-sided progressive and profound hearing loss, a transient left-sided facial paralysis and cranial nerve 10 palsy who presented with a blue middle ear mass. Her diagnosis did not become apparent until direct visualization intraoperatively. The objective of this case study is to highlight the destructive capabilities of CG and the importance to keep it in the differential diagnosis of a large, erosive, expansile skull base lesion in order to avoid overly aggressive resection or other unnecessary treatment.

(111)In-octreotide SPECT-CT in head and neck paragangliomas.

Head and neck paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors expressing somatostatin receptors on their cell surface, particularly subtype 2. Due to this distinctive feature, images can be obtained in Nuclear Medicine using synthetic analogues of somatostatin, mainly octreotide, which allow selective display by planar scintigraphy, SPECT-CT or PET-CT imaging after radiolabeling with (111)In or (68)Ga. Three cases have been selected and presented from a series of patients that illustrate the utility of SPECT-CT studies with (111)In-octreotide in the diagnosis and monitoring of this type of tumor. These are characterization at initial diagnosis, staging, and detection of local recurrence or metastasis, with added value with respect to anatomical images (nuclear magnetic resonance, computed axial tomography, angiography), for example in the differentiation between functional tissue or scar in patients who had previously undergone surgery.

An unusual cause of vertigo and syncope: a case report.

A 72-year-old woman with recurrent bouts of vertigo and syncope was found to have a glomus tympanicum tumor. Surgical removal of this tumor resulted in complete symptom resolution. This report summarizes the presentation, workup, treatment, and clinical significance of this case when dealing with these presenting symptoms.

Clinical, histopathologic, and radiographic indicators of malignancy in head and neck paragangliomas.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study is to review our series of head and neck paragangliomas to identify factors that may help in predicting malignancy. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review. SETTING: Academic medical center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Subjects with head and neck paragangliomas at our institution from 1976 to current were reviewed. In addition to statistical comparisons of epidemiologic factors, pathologic and radiographic characteristics were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 84 subjects, there were seven malignant paragangliomas (8%). Age was found to be significantly different between the benign and malignant subgroups, with an average age of 54 ± 16 and 40 ± 12 years, respectively (P = 0.02). Pain was a presenting complaint in five patients with benign disease (6%), and five of the seven malignant patients (71%) presented with pain, showing a significant association between pain and disease type (P < 0.0001). The odds ratio for a patient with pain having a malignant tumor was 36 (95% CI: 5.5-234). Enlarging neck mass was noted in all cases of malignant disease, but only in 31 percent of cases of benign disease (P < 0.0001). In a secondary analysis of carotid body tumors alone, enlarging neck mass was not found to be significant between benign and malignant disease (P = 0.14). However, pain continued to be significantly different, with 67 percent of malignant lesions demonstrating pain, compared with only 11 percent of benign lesions (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that pain, a rapidly enlarging neck mass, and younger age are predictive factors of underlying malignancy, which should prompt one to consider an aggressive diagnostic and management approach.

Middle ear and mastoid glomus tumors (glomus tympanicum): an algorithm for the surgical management.

OBJECTIVE: Glomus tumors are slow-growing benign lesions and represent the most common primary neoplasms of the middle ear. The objective of the present study is to report our surgical strategy in the management of glomus tympanicum tumors. METHODS: Between December 1988 and July 2008, 68 patients with histologically confirmed glomus tympanicum tumor underwent surgical treatment. The follow-up of the series ranged from 6 to 194 months (mean, 33.4 months). RESULTS: Distribution of tumors according to Fisch and Mattox classification was as follows: type A, 44 cases (64.7%); type B, 24 cases (35.3%). All of the 44 Class A tumors were safely removed via either a stapedectomy-type transcanal approach or a retroauricolar-transcanal approach. Five patients with Class B tumors were operated on through a transmastoid approach. Nineteen patients with larger Class B tumors underwent a subtotal petrosectomy with blind sac closure of the external auditory canal and middle ear obliteration. Gross total tumor removal was achieved in all 68 cases. In one case (1.4%) there was recurrence after 9 years, for which the patient was re-operated. No residual/recurrence has been detected on computed tomography in the rest of the patients. CONCLUSION: Surgical excision of glomus tympanicum tumors is a safe procedure, allowing total tumor removal with minimal morbidity, a low recurrence rate, and a low complication rate.

Middle ear adenomatous tumor: a not so rare glomus tympanicum-mimicking lesion.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Middle ear adenomatous tumors (MEAT) are rare tumors which can be begin or malignant and can present a neuroendocrine differentiation. Their radiological aspect is very similar to glomus tympanicum (GT) which are the most common tumoral lesions of the middle ear. We present several radiological and clinical findings that could help radiologists to accurately identify MEAT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the radiological and clinical findings of three patients with MEAT and of eight patients with GT. Diagnostic was obtained after surgical resection in all cases. All patients had high resolution CT and MR of the middle ear associated with a subtracted digital carotid angiography. Tumor location, size, extension, signal intensity, and enhancement were analysed. From the medical records of the patients, clinical manifestations (hearing loss, tinnitus), evolution length and recurrences were noted. RESULTS: MEAT and GT appeared as tissular lesion with significant enhancement on CT and MR. A vascular blush was present on angiography in all cases of GT and absent from all cases of MEAT. A close relationship between the tumor and the Jacobson's nerve or its branches was identified in all cases of GT. Pulsatile tinnitus was present in all patients with GT and absent in all patients with MEAT. CONCLUSION: A middle ear tissular lesion clearly separated from the Jacobson nerve or its branches, showing significant enhancement after contrast medium injection but with a normal angiography, should make one suspicious for MEAT.

[Selective embolization and surgical resection for head and neck glomus tumours--clinical outcome analysis]. / Präoperative Embolisation mit chirurgischer Resektion von Glomustumoren im Kopf-Hals-Bereich: Analyse der klinischen Ergebnisse.

The effectiveness and safety of angiographic embolization was investigated as a preliminary step prior to surgical excision of glomus tumours in the head and neck region. Embolization was performed in 54 patients presenting with a total of 58 chemodectomas, jugular (n=30), tympanicum (n=24) and caroticum (n=4) between the years 1988 and 2006. Embolization was considered successful if complete occlusion of all tumor-feeding vessels was achieved. The procedure was performed using polyvinylalcohol particles and microcoils and lasted for a median duration of 159 minutes. Complete tumor embolization was achieved in 72 % of patients. In 23%, it was partly successful and in 4% it was unsuccessful. 16% of patients experienced minor events during the procedure including hypotension, bradycardia, and vertigo. Following embolization, almost all patients (98%) had their tumour completely excised. Although the majority experienced minor postoperative complications (69%), one patient developed meningitis. There were no reported deaths. Angiographic embolization of glomus tumours in the head and neck before definitive excision can be safe and effective, resulting in an improved surgical outcome and tumour resectability.