Middle ear adenoma with neuroendocrine differentiation: relate of two cases and literature review

• Main Authors: Aline Gomes Bittencourt, Robinson Koji Tsuji, Francisco Cabral Junior, Larissa Vilela Pereira, Anna Carolina de Oliveira Fonseca, Venâncio Alves, Ricardo Ferreira Bento
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda. 2013-07-01
• Series: International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology
• Subjects: neuroendocrine tumors; hearing loss; adenoma
• Online Access: http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.7162/S1809-977720130003000015

Summary Introduction: Adenomas with neuroendocrine differentiation are defined as neuroendocrine neoplasms, and they are rarely found in the head and neck. Objective: To describe two cases of a middle ear adenoma with neuroendocrine differentiation, with a literature review. Case Report: Patient 1 was a 41-year-old woman who presented with a 3-year history of left aural fullness associated with ipsilateral “hammer beating” tinnitus. Patient 2 was a 41-year-old male who presented with unilateral conductive hearing loss. Conclusion: Adenoma with neuroendocrine differentiation of the middle ear is a rare entity, but it should be considered in patients with tinnitus, aural fullness, and a retrotympanic mass and remembered as a diferential diagnosis of tympanic paraganglioma.