Middle ear carcinoma originating from a primary acquired cholesteatoma: a case report

Abstract

Objectives: To describe middle ear carcinoma originating from the matrix of primary acquired cholesteatoma in a 43-year-old man and to discuss the relationship between middle ear carcinoma and cholesteatoma.

Study design: Case report.

Setting: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery of Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital, which is a tertiary care center, Niigata, Japan.

Patient: A 43-year-old man demonstrated symptoms resembling those of cholesteatoma: facial palsy, gradually progressive hearing loss, and chronic draining of the right ear. Other objective findings also supported a finding of cholesteatoma, but a computed tomographic scan and magnetic resonance imaging scan showed a well-enhanced mass and extensive bony erosion in the middle ear. At surgery, a granulous tumor in the mastoid cavity was diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma, and closely coexisting cholesteatoma was found. Surgical specimen demonstrated carcinoma and cholesteatoma in the same field.

Intervention: Radiation and chemotherapy were performed followed-up by mastoidectomy.

Conclusion: Because middle ear carcinoma has a poor prognosis, it is important to detect lesions early. It is necessary to consider that middle ear carcinoma arises from not only chronic otitis media or surgical invasion but also from primary acquired cholesteatoma.