Surgical treatment of endolymphatic sac tumor

The objective of this study was to understand the clinical characteristics of endolymphatic sac tumor and to optimize its diagnosis and treatment. We carried out a retrospective review of 11 patients diagnosed as having endolymphatic sac tumor based on operative findings and pathological features, and their clinical manifestations, differential diagnosis, and surgical approaches are discussed in detail. The lesions of 10 cases were completely surgically resected, two cases via the mastoid approach, 8 cases via the oto-cervical or cranio-oto-cervical combined approach. In one case the tumor was partially removed and the patient received adjuvant radiotherapy. In operation, four cases had facial-hypoglossal neural anastomosis, two cases had great auricular nerve graft, and in four cases the facial nerve integrity remained. Survival follow-up data range from 14 months to 10 years. We conclude that endolymphatic sac tumor is very rare and easily misdiagnosed. Reasonable surgical treatment can provide a good prognosis.