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Aural Polyp is not Always Due to Chronic Otitis Media (COM): Preoperative Computed Tomographic Scan is Good Pointer for Sinister Lesions

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Abstract

Twenty five patients of aural polyp who underwent canal wall down mastoidectomy were analysed retrospectively. Histopathological examination revealed cholesteatoma in 22 (88%) patients. However, histopathological diagnosis in 3 of these patients was unusual and rare benign tumors of the middle ear cleft-meningioma, neurilemmoma and capillary hemangioma. Review of the preoperative High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) temporal bone revealed an unusual picture in all of the three cases. Features noted were: widening of the jugular foramen (meningioma), destruction of the anterior wall of mesotympanum (neurilemmoma), enhancing soft tissue density lesion (capillary hemangioma). Further, there was only partial loss of pneumatisation of the mastoid air cells in all of the 3 cases. It was observed that though HRCT temporal bone is a commonly advised investigation in patients of chronic otitis media (COM) with aural polyp, meticulous interpretation may reveal unusual features pointing towards sinister diagnosis. Conclusion: Aural polyp with preservation of pneumatisation of mastoid air cells points towards diagnosis other than COM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Pt. B.D. Sharma, PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana, India

    Vijay Kumar Kalra

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  1. Vijay Kumar Kalra
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Correspondence to Vijay Kumar Kalra.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Statement

Informed consent was taken at the time of surgery. This study is a retrospective analysis of operated patients. The investigations (CT scan) and surgery is routinely done worldwide and in our hospital, so no ethical aspect is involved in this study.

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Kalra, V.K. Aural Polyp is not Always Due to Chronic Otitis Media (COM): Preoperative Computed Tomographic Scan is Good Pointer for Sinister Lesions. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 70, 505–509 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-018-1482-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-018-1482-5

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