title: A blue middle ear mass: Cholesterol granuloma mimicking a glomus tumor and endolymphatic sac tumor.
abstract: Cholesterol granuloma (CG) is the most common benign lesion of the petrous apex, however, it can grow significantly large and become destructive causing a diagnostic dilemma. This case presents a 25-year-old female with 2-year history of left-sided progressive and profound hearing loss, a transient left-sided facial paralysis and cranial nerve 10 palsy who presented with a blue middle ear mass. Her diagnosis did not become apparent until direct visualization intraoperatively. The objective of this case study is to highlight the destructive capabilities of CG and the importance to keep it in the differential diagnosis of a large, erosive, expansile skull base lesion in order to avoid overly aggressive resection or other unnecessary treatment.
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 600 Gresham Drive Suite 1100, VA, Norfolk, VA, United States. Electronic address: clara.olcott@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Olcott
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 600 Gresham Drive Suite 1100, VA, Norfolk, VA, United States.
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Strasnick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002784:Cholesterol; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004428:Ear Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000473:pathology; D004712:Endolymphatic Sac / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D043604:Glomus Tympanicum Tumor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D015745:Granuloma, Foreign-Body / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol