Middle Ear Adenomatous Neuroendocrine Tumor: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Middle ear adenomatous neuroendocrine tumor (MEANT) is a rare entity and accounts for approximately 2% of all middle ear tumors. Histologically, the presence of neuroendocrine and glandular structures has led to the use of a wide variety of terminologies such as adenoma, carcinoid tumor, and neuroendocrine tumor. The patients usually have nonspecific symptoms such as unilateral hearing loss, auditory fullness, tinnitus, and otalgia. There is no specific radiological finding. A definitive diagnosis is based on complete removal of the tumor and combined histopathology and immunohistochemical examination. In this case-report, we describe a patient with MEANT who complained of hearing loss and auditory fullness in her left ear. Otomicroscopy revealed a mass of polypoid tissue filling the left external auditory canal. In the pure tone audiometry test, the pure-tone average was reported as L45/5 R10/0, and the tympanogram was type B on the left ear. In temporal bone computed tomography, the soft-tissue mass located in the middle ear was found to extend to the antrum and the external auditory canal. Biopsy taken under local anesthesia from the visible mass in the external auditory canal was reported as MEANT and the diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology and immunochemistry after surgery.