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Management of a catecholamine-secreting tympanicum glomus tumour: case report

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 February 2008

H Kouzaki*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Shiga, Japan
J Fukui
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Shiga, Japan
T Shimizu
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Shiga, Japan
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Hideaki Kouzaki, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Tsukinowa-cho, Seta, Otsu, 520-2192, Japan. Fax: +81 77 548 2783 E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Objective:

To report the safe management and treatment of a catecholamine-secreting tympanicum glomus tumour.

Case report:

A 73-year-old women presented with a catecholamine-producing glomus tympanicum tumour, complaining of hearing impairment and left ear pain. Physical examination revealed a red, pulsating swelling in the left tympanic membrane. Computed tomography demonstrated a soft tissue mass filling the entire middle-ear cavity and a partial osteolytic lesion in the internal carotid artery. Angiographic examination revealed a densely contrasting tumour with feeding vessels from the ascending pharyngeal artery. Concentrations of serum noradrenalin and urine vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) were high. The tumour was completely resected using a potassium titanyl phosphate laser, the feeding vessels having been embolised the previous day. Concentrations of serum noradrenalin and urine VMA normalised following the operation.

Conclusion:

Pre-operative embolisation is useful in the treatment of catecholamine-secreting tympanicum glomus tumours, not only for preventing a hypertensive crisis but also for reducing bleeding. The potassium titanyl phosphate laser is useful for complete resection of the tumour.

Type
Clinical Records
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2008

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