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Melanoma of the middle ear: initial presentation, Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed
M W Huellner1, M Cousin, T Linder
1Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiology, Cantonal Hospital Lucerne, Switzerland. martin.huellner@ksl.ch
Background:
We present a rare case of primary mucosal melanoma of the middle ear imaged with 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT).
Method:
Clinical, radiological, intra-operative and histological findings are discussed.
Results:
An 88-year-old woman presented with intermittent otorrhoea of the left ear for several months. Otoscopy revealed a livid protrusion of the tympanic membrane. Melanoma was not suspected initially, but was established on transmembranous biopsy. Pre-operative 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography revealed a mass lesion in the left tympanic cavity with high fluoro-deoxyglucose uptake, as well as an ipsilateral intraparotid lymph node metastasis. The patient underwent surgical treatment. The diagnosis of melanoma was confirmed histologically.
Conclusion:
In this rare case, clinical, radiological and surgical findings led to the diagnosis of a primary mucosal melanoma of the middle ear.
