Tympanic paragangliomas

Abstract

Introduction: Tympanic glomus tumors, or paragangliomas, are vascular tumors located on the middle ear promontory, formed by cells with finely granulated eosinophilic cytoplasm with small oval nucleus separated by septa of fibrous tissue containing dilated veins. Development: These tympanic tumors are very similar histologically to pheochromocytoma and are considered the most common benign tumors of the middle ear. The most reported symptoms are pulsatile tinnitus and hearing loss. Physical examination may show a reddish lesion in the middle ear. The diagnosis by complementary exams is made with the tomography of the temporal bones and nuclear magnetic resonance, when necessary, and audiometry. Conclusions: This article presents two cases of patients with tympanic paragangliomas treated surgically, with different clinical conditions despite having similar lesions, showing resolutive conduct for an unusual picture.

Keywords

• glomus tympanicum
• paraganglioma
• neoplasms
• tinnitus