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[Malherbe's calcifying cyst. Apropos of an unusual case in the middle ear. Histopathogenic value]
V Bouton1, P H Despres, F Djian
1C.M.C. Les Fontaines, Melun.
Abstract:
We report the case of a 54 years old man suffering with chronic otorrhea. The surgical procedure let us be surprised at a non specific cyst located in the "additus ad antrum", close to the incus but no damaging it. The result of the histologic examination was: Malherbe's calcifying cyst. After a background study of the publications concerning this type of tumor specially located in the skin, we can affirm this localisation in the middle ear cavity as exceptional. The cutaneous origin of this tumor and its vestigial type let us think about the possible persistence of amniotic fluid cellular content (AFCC) in the middle ear and its tumoral development in adult, explaining maybe partly the chronic otorrhea syndrome of this case.
Insights
A rare Malherbe's calcifying cyst was found in the middle ear of a patient with chronic otorrhea. This exceptional tumor location may be linked to amniotic fluid cellular content persistence.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pathology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Chronic otorrhea can stem from various middle ear pathologies.
- Malherbe's calcifying epithelioma (pilomatricoma) is typically a cutaneous tumor.
- The presence of tumors in the middle ear cavity is uncommon.
Observation:
- A 54-year-old male presented with chronic otorrhea.
- Surgical exploration revealed an unexpected cyst in the additus ad antrum, near the incus.
- Histological examination identified the cyst as Malherbe's calcifying epithelioma.
Findings:
- This represents an exceptionally rare case of Malherbe's calcifying cyst located in the middle ear.
- The cyst was surgically removed without damaging adjacent structures like the incus.
- The tumor's typical cutaneous origin and vestigial nature were noted.
Implications:
- The middle ear's localization suggests a potential link to the persistence of amniotic fluid cellular content (AFCC).
- This finding may offer a novel explanation for chronic otorrhea in certain adult cases.
- Further research into AFCC and its role in middle ear pathologies is warranted.