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Middle ear osteoma
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
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Osteoma of the middle ear is a tumor disease of the middle ear, which usually occurs in the petro-mastoid region, the starting point is either one of the air cells or the cortex of one of the internal cavities of the temporal bone. If osteoma of the middle ear occurs in the area of the base of the mastoid process, it can reach significant sizes, filling almost the entire retroauricular region.
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What causes osteoma of the middle ear?
Osteoma of the middle ear results from the proliferation of interosseous or periosteal connective tissue, which metaplasizes into spongy bone covered by a cortical layer that is virtually indistinguishable from normal bone tissue. Although the vascularization of the osteoma is insignificant, it is sufficient to provide the growing tumor with the necessary nutrients.
Symptoms of osteoma of the middle ear
There are no symptoms of osteoma of the middle ear, only when it is of significant size it leads to protruding auricle, which makes the patient to see a doctor. Sometimes, when the entrance to the external auditory canal is compressed, hearing loss occurs. When osteoma occurs in the tympanic cavity and when it reaches a certain size, at which it begins to exert mechanical impact on the sound-conducting apparatus, the windows of the ear labyrinth, the symptoms of osteoma of the middle ear become very pronounced: constant, increasing in intensity tinnitus, hearing loss, vestibular disorders. When osteoma spreads to the area of the bulb of the jugular vein, a pulsating noise in the ear of a blowing nature occurs.
Osteoma of the middle ear evolves very slowly (many years) and often stops growing at some stage of development. Only when osteomas of the middle ear cause certain functional disorders or are the cause of a certain cosmetic defect, they are subject to surgical removal.
Diagnosis of osteoma of the middle ear
Diagnosis of middle ear osteoma is not difficult. Radiography is indicated to visualize the size and topography of the tumor and to determine the condition of the middle ear cavities and the pyramid of the temporal bone. Radiographically, osteomas are visualized as a shadow of bone density, round or oval, with clearly defined boundaries. Osteoma of the middle ear is not delimited from the bone tissue from which it originates, but smoothly, without a dividing line, passes into it. If the tumor develops in the external auditory canal, then the radiograph reveals a narrowing of its bone section. It is osteomas of this anatomical section of the outer ear that occur much more often than in other parts of it, and are called exostoses of the external auditory canal.
Treatment of osteoma of the middle ear
Osteoma of the middle ear and exostoses are removed surgically.
What is the prognosis for middle ear osteoma?
Osteomas of the middle ear do not undergo malignancy and do not recur after their removal.