2021 Volume 67 Issue 3 Pages 175-182
We report rare cases of intracranial meningioma extending to the middle ear with a review of past reports. Case 1 : A 62-year-old man presented with a complaint of right hearing loss. A gray mass in the tympanic cavity was noted behind the malleus. Imaging tests showed the tumor from the middle cranial fossa extending to the middle ear with osteoclasts in the tegmen tympani. A biopsy was performed through the tympanic membrane and a histopathological examination revealed that the lesion was meningioma. The patient underwent subtotal resection using a middle cranial fossa approach and mastoidectomy. Case 2 : A 45-year-old woman was admitted with left hearing loss. A gray-white mass was observed through the left tympanic membrane. Imaging tests showed a tumor at the posterior cranial fossa involving the jugular bulb and extending to the middle ear. A biopsy was performed through the tympanic membrane and a histopathological examination revealed that the lesion was meningioma. Surgical removal was proposed ; however, she was not willing to undergo surgery. Thus, the tumor growth is currently being observed with MRI examinations. Intracranial meningioma extending to the middle ear is rare ; however, it should be included in the differential diagnosis of middle ear tumors.
