title: Aberrant jugular bulb presenting as a middle ear mass.
abstract: Case reports of 3 patients seen with a bluish mass behind the tympanic membrane are presented. The initial diagnosis was probable glomus tumor. In 1 patient, middle ear exploration confirmed the presence of a high-lying jugular bulb. In the other 2, venography demonstrated that the jugular bulb projected superiorly into the middle ear cavity. In all 3, polytomography demonstrated a dehiscence of the bony septum which normally separates the jugular bulb from the hypotympanum. When a bony dehiscence is seen in the absence of destructive changes, a diagnosis of aberrant jugular bulb is strongly suggested.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005925:Glomus Jugulare Tumor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010236:Paraganglioma, Extra-Adrenal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging