A case report on surgical management of glomus tympanicum and literature review

Abstract

Introduction: Glomus tympanicum is a benign tumor classified under the group glomus tumors, and is also known as paragangliomas.

Case presentation: A 52 years old woman presented with unilateral pulsatile tinnitus and hearing loss. She had a visible reddish mass behind the eardrum; Temporal bone CT scans suggested middle ear mass secondary to Glomus Tympanicum tumors. With the diagnosis of Modified Fisch-Mattox class A2 middle ear paragangliomas the tumors was surgically removed (7 mm × 5 mm on the right) using post-aural approaches. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of paraganglioma. The patient was discharged and being monitored regularly. This report follows the SCARE criteria guidelines.

Clinical discussion: Glomus Tympanicum, a slow-growing, benign tumor originating from paraganglia, is a rare occurrence. It typically presents with pulsatile tinnitus and hearing loss, often unilateral. Early diagnosis and surgical intervention are crucial for optimal outcomes.

Conclusion: Glomus tympanicum is a rare condition. There are three treatment options for this condition observation, surgical excision, and radiotherapy. The primary therapeutic option for paragangliomas is complete surgical excision, it is performed under microscopic observation or an endoscopic approach. A timely diagnosis makes surgical treatment more straightforward.

Keywords: Case report; Glomus tumor; Glomus tympanicum; Middle ear tumor; Paraganglioma.