Yushu Cheng, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Yan Sha, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To analyze the CT and MRI features of glomus tympanicum tumors accompanied with tympanitis and evaluate the diagnostic value of CT and MRI in order to improve the cognition for the disease.

The clinical materials and images of 8 patients in whom glomus tympanicum tumors with tympanitis surgically and pathologically confirmed were retrospectively reviewed. The characteristics and diagnostic value of CT and MR imaging were summarized.

By CT examination the lesions in middle ear and mastoid were preoperatively diagnosed as tympanitis in five cases and only in three cases the glomus tympanicum tumors were suspected. In six patients underwent MR examination the lesions were all preoperatively diagnosed as glomus tympanicum tumors with tympanitis. HRCT scanning of the temporal bone in all patients showed the low density lesions in the tympanic cavity and mastoid, and the cavitas tympanica were mostly (n=3) or completely (n=5) occupied by soft tissue lesions, but the auditory ossicles were all not found destroyed. Contrast-enhanced axial CT scanning performed in five cases showed less enhanced soft tissue mass on the cochlear promontory, and the size of mass was less than that observed in HRCT and MR imaging. MR T1-weighted imaging showed the presence of isointense lesions in middle ear and isointense (n=3) or hyperintense (n=3) lesions in mastoid. On T2-weighted imaging the lesions with slight hyperintense were viewed in the middle ear and the lesions with hyperintense in mastoid process.T1-weighted gadolinium-enhanced MRI showed the masses in tympanum were greatly increased enhancement, but the lesions in mastoid without enhancement. MRI and CT imaging revealed the masses in six cases of eight extend to the eustachian tube.

When the glomus tympanicum tumor was accompanied with tympanitis the tumor could be misdiagnosed or missed only by CT examination. MRI with contrast-enhancement is superior to CT in the preoperative diagnosis and accurately evaluation in the glomus tympanicum tumors with tympanitis. Extending anteriorly into the eustachian tube may be a way of the glomus tympanicum tumor spread and result in the secondary tympanitis.

Improve the recognition for the diagnostic value of CT and MRI in the disease of glomus tympanicum tumors accompanied with tympanitis.

Cheng, Y, Sha, Y, The Role of CT and MR Imaging in Diagnosis of Glomus Tympanicum Tumor Accompanied with Tympanitis.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9009522.html