A Rare Tumor Of The Tuba Auditiva

Choristoma or heterotopias are sprengths of normal tissue cells in aberrant locations.

We present a female patient with persistent otorrhoea on the left since 03/2020, the 4th month of life. After multiple smear-appropriate antibiotic and local therapy achieving no improvement, a cMRI was performed. It described a secretion accumulation in the left middle ear and mastoid. After insertion of a tympanic drainage alio loco, there was no permanent improvement. The at that time 11-month-old patient presented herself 10/2020 in our clinic.

A mastoidectomy with tympanoscopy on the left was performed suspected chronified otitis media with mastoiditis. Intraoperatively, an insoluble tumor of the left middle ear protruding into the tuba auditiva was noticeable. After a biopsy and CT of the petrosal bone and cMRI, a teratoma was assumed with a proper representation of the ossicles and cochlea.

The tumor was resected completely with the help of navigation-assistence and nerve monitoring by combined access via nasopharynx and middle ear. Postoperatively showed up a standard hearing and good wound healing. Histopathologically, choristomatous heterotopia resulted as cutaneous-subcutaneous tissue with salivary gland and skeletal muscle.

There are only a few cases in the literature. Congenital, benign tumors of mature tissue of different origins are described in the ENT area, for example of ossary or cartilaginous origin.

In the case of persistent otorrhoea, diagnostic imaging schould be performed after exhausted therapy. Especially in infancy, a tumor of the tuba auditiva recommends an interdisciplinary discussion for the planning of the complete surgical resection while maintaining ventilation function and hearing.

Publication History

Article published online:
24 May 2022