Endoscopic transnasal resection of Eustachian-tube dermoid in a new-born infant

Dermoids of the Eustachian tube are rare benign developmental tumours that typically occur in female children. General consensus of classification and nomenclature has still not been reached. The treatment of choice consists of a radical surgical excision. Several approaches have been described and few cases are reported in literature. A gross total resection is now safely achievable through an endoscopic mini-invasive approach.

We have reported a case of dermoid pedicled in the left Eustachian tube and resected with a pure endoscopic transnasal approach. A review of the literature was performed.

The aim of this paper is to present the first case of pure endoscopic transnasal resection in a 4-day-old infant as emergency treatment of Eustachian tube dermoid presenting an acute respiratory failure at birth.

The endoscopic transnasal resection is a safe and feasible technique in selected dermoids of the Eustachian tube, when the middle ear is not involved. This approach could be used also in new-born children, decreasing the morbidity of the classic surgical treatment and avoiding the risk of craniofacial alterations.