Rare Clinical Presentation of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma as Otitis Media and Mastoiditis

Lymphomas originating in the ear are extremely rare. As with other malignancies of the temporal bone, diagnosis of lymphoma in the middle ear and temporal bone is often delayed, negatively impacting treatment and prognosis. The delay in diagnosis is primarily due to its clinical presentation overlapping with benign infectious conditions of the middle ear. Here, we present a rare case of a 46-year-old woman with prolonged otorrhea, hearing disturbances, intermittent vertigo, and headache. She underwent surgery to investigate suspected chronic otomastoiditis, and subsequent pathological examination revealed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Severe and persistent middle ear symptoms should raise red flags and warrant thorough and detailed investigations, including pathological confirmation.