Middle Ear Neuroendocrine Tumor: Case Report of a Tympanic Adenoma

Scientific paper - Case study

• Author: Ilinko Vrebac
• Author: Filip Pavlić
• Author: Andro Košec
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Othorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences; Otorhinolaryngology

Abstract (english)

Middle ear neuroendocrine tumors (MeNETs) are an exceptionally rare occurrence. These benign tumors stem from the tympanic mucosa and can easily be misinterpreted by the clinician and the pathologist. Clinical characteristics, otoscopic findings and medical imaging in these cases are non-specific. We present a case of a 60-year-old male patient with bilateral hearing loss following recent coronavirus disease 2019 disease. Diagnostic work-up revealed a soft tissue neoplasm of the left middle ear. Surgical resection of the tumor mass with implantation of a partial ossicular replacement prosthesis (PORP) was the main modality of treatment. Middle ear neuroendocrine tumors was confirmed through positive immunohistochemistry for neuroendocrine tumor markers. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging 12 months after the surgery reported no tumor recurrence or significant residual disease with a stable PORP. Our report highlights challenges in diagnosing and treating these rare tumors, while emphasizing surgical resection pitfalls and resulting improvement of quality of life of the patient. We recommend a through followup of patients with unclear soft tissue masses in the middle ear to obtain a definitive diagnosis.

• Keywords (english): Adenoma / diagnosis; Adenoma / pathology; Adenoma / surgery; COVID-19 / complications; COVID-19 / diagnosis; Ear Neoplasms / diagnosis; Ear Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging; Ear Neoplasms / pathology; Ear Neoplasms / surgery; Ear, Middle / diagnostic imaging; Ear, Middle / pathology; Ear, Middle / surgery; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods; Male; Middle Aged; Neuroendocrine Tumors / diagnosis; Neuroendocrine Tumors / pathology; Neuroendocrine Tumors / surgery; Ossicular Replacement / methods
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Case study
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: The Journal of International Advanced Otology
• Numbering: vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 283-287
• e-ISSN: 2148-3817
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.5152/iao.2024.231444
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:024686
• Publication: 2024-05
• Document URL: https://www.advancedotology.org/en/middle-ear-neuroendocrine-tumor-case-report-of-a-tympanic-adenoma-131931
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2025-03-28 10:22:38