HRCT and MRI findings of glomus tympanicum tumors in Middle Ear

WEI Xiang; ZHANG Yalin; LIU Kui; LI Huimin

Abstract：Objective To explore the characteristic and diagnostic value of HRCT and MRI in glomus tympanicum tumors in Middle Ear .Methods We retrospectively analysed the imaging feature of 11 patients who suffered from glomus tympanicum tumors in Middle Ear which was confirmed by pathologist .All of patients were scanned by high-resolution CT(HRCT), and five of them were examined by enhanced and high resolution CT scan combined , and coronal reconstruction was completed .All the cases were performed by scan and enhanced MRI scan .Results Glomus tympanicum tumor in middle ear of 11 cases occurred in the hypo tympanum next to promontorium tympani .Nodules in the soft tissue shadow was seen in 7 of patients by HRCTs ( range:4.0~16 mm, mean:9.2 mm);2 of them merged mastoiditis and otitis media , while the rest 4 patients showed mastoiditis and otitis media only;specific destruction of sclerotin were not seen .All of the tumor nodules could be seen in MRI (range:4.1~18 mm, mean:11 mm) , T1 WI was slightly high or equality intensities , T2 WI was high intensities , and enhancement was significantly ab-normal in MRI .Conclusion Glomus tympanicum tumors in Middle Ear generally occurred in hypo tympanum close to promonto-rium tympani and always appeared to be nodules in the soft tissue without obvious destruction of surrounding sclerotin .HRCT was suited to the single tumor nodules , however , it was difficult to detect when patients merged mastoiditis and otitis media; MRI could obviously displayed the tumor nodules , and especially for angioid enhanced nodules , which is contributed to qualitative di-agnosis .