Middle ear adenoma with neuroendocrine differentiation: relate of two cases and literature review

• Published in: International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology Vol. 17; no. 3; pp. 340 - 343
• Main Authors: Bittencourt, Aline, Tsuji, Robinson, Cabral, Francisco, Pereira, Larissa, Fonseca, Anna, Alves, Venâncio, Bento, Ricardo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Thieme Publicações Ltda 01-07-2013; Fundação Otorrinolaringologia; Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda
• Subjects: adenoma; hearing loss; neuroendocrine tumors; OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY; Neuroendocrine Tumors; Hearing Loss; Adenoma
• ISSN: 1809-9777; 1809-4864; 1809-4864
• DOI: 10.7162/S1809-977720130003000015

Introduction:
 Adenomas with neuroendocrine differentiation are defined as neuroendocrine neoplasms, and they are rarely found in the head and neck.
Objective:
 To describe two cases of a middle ear adenoma with neuroendocrine differentiation, with a literature review.
Case Report:
 Patient 1 was a 41-year-old woman who presented with a 3-year history of left aural fullness associated with ipsilateral “hammer beating” tinnitus. Patient 2 was a 41-year-old male who presented with unilateral conductive hearing loss.
Conclusion:
 Adenoma with neuroendocrine differentiation of the middle ear is a rare entity, but it should be considered in patients with tinnitus, aural fullness, and a retrotympanic mass and remembered as a diferential diagnosis of tympanic paraganglioma.