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Middle ear lipoma
V Abdullah1, P Williamson, A Gallimore
1Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, London.
Insights
A rare middle ear lipoma was diagnosed in a child, causing eustachian tube dysfunction and middle ear effusions. This case represents a significant finding in otolaryngology, particularly in the UK.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Middle ear lipomas are rare benign tumors.
- Congenital cholesteatoma often presents in similar locations.
- Eustachian tube dysfunction can lead to middle ear effusions.
Observation:
- A five-year-old child presented with bilateral middle ear effusions.
- A primary middle ear lipoma was diagnosed in the right ear.
- The lipoma was found to occlude the eustachian tube.
Findings:
- This is the first reported case of de novo middle ear lipoma in the UK.
- It is the third case documented globally.
- CT scans indicated a smaller, similar lesion in the contralateral ear.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering lipomas in the differential diagnosis of middle ear masses.
- Understanding the presentation and location can aid in early diagnosis.
- Further research into the etiology and management of pediatric middle ear lipomas is warranted.
Abstract:
We report a case of primary middle ear lipoma diagnosed in the right ear of a five-year-old child with concurrent bilateral middle ear effusions. The lipoma occupied a site favoured by congenital cholesteatoma and was occlusive to the eustachian tube contributing to its dysfunction. This is the first case of de novo middle ear lipoma diagnosed in the UK, and the third in world literature. Our CT scans are suggestive of a similar but smaller lesion in the left ear of the same child.