Osteoma of middle ear
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Osteoma of the middle ear - a tumorous disease of the middle ear, which usually occurs in the stony-mastoid region, the starting point is either one of the air-bearing cells, or the cortical layer of one of the inner cavities of the temporal bone. If the osteoma of the middle ear appears in the base of the mastoid process, it can reach considerable dimensions, filling almost the entire retro-arctic region.
The skin is usually intact or slightly hyperemic due to stretching of the venous network and stagnant phenomena.
[What causes osteoma of the middle ear?
The osteoma of the middle ear arises from the proliferation of interosseous or periosteal connective tissue, which metaplanses into a spongy bone covered with a cortical layer that is virtually indistinguishable from normal bone tissue. Despite the fact that vascularization of the osteoma is negligible, it is enough to provide the growing tumor with the necessary nutrients.
Symptoms of the osteoma of the middle ear
Symptoms of the osteoma of the middle ear are absent, only with considerable dimensions lead to the bulging of the auricle, which causes the patient to consult a doctor. Sometimes, when squeezing the entrance into the external auditory canal, there is a decrease in hearing. When osteoma occurs in the tympanic cavity and when it reaches a certain size, under which it begins to exert a mechanical effect on the sound-conducting apparatus, the windows of the ear maze, the symptoms of the osteoma of the middle ear become very pronounced: constant, increasing in intensity, ear noise, hearing loss, vestibular disorders. With the spread of osteoma in the area of the bulb of the jugular vein, a pulsating noise in the ear of a blowing character appears.
The osteoma of the middle ear evolves very slowly (many years) and often at some stage of development ceases to increase. Only when the osteoma of the middle ear causes these or other functional disorders or are the cause of a cosmetic defect, they are subject to surgical removal.
Diagnosis of the middle ear osteoma
Diagnosis of the osteoma of the middle ear does not cause difficulties. An x-ray is shown for visualizing the size and topography of the tumor and clarifying the state of the middle ear cavity and the temporal bone pyramid. Radiographically, osteomas are visualized as a shadow of bone density, round or oval, with clearly defined boundaries. The osteoma of the middle ear is not delimited from the bone tissue from which it occurs, but smoothly, without a dividing line, passes into it. If the tumor develops in the external auditory canal, then on the roentgenogram the narrowing of its osseous part is revealed. It is the osteomas of this anatomical section of the external ear that arise 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
The osteoma of the middle ear and exostosis are surgically removed.
What prognosis does the osteoma of the middle ear have?
The osteoma of the middle ear is not malignant and does not recur after removal.