Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2014 Nov;57(11):787-791. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2014.57.11.787.

A Case of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Presenting as Middle Ear Tumor

• Yoon SW
• Kang MY
• Lee TH
• Jeong SW

• KMID: 1963760
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2014.57.11.787

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) evolves most commonly from the pharyngeal recess posteromedial to the medial crura of the Eustachian tube opening in the nasopharynx. Therefore unilateral middle ear effusion with hearing loss is a common presenting symptom of NPC, and its presence in adult patients make physicians suspect NPC. Recently, we experienced a 72- year-old female patient with advanced NPC which invaded Eustachian tube and middle ear cavity. She had long standing chronic otitis media with large perforation of tympanic membrane. Because of tympanic membrane perforation, she did not have any Eustachian tube-related symptoms such as newly developing ear fullness or hearing loss and even the physician had overlooked the diagnosis of NPC. Her NPC was diagnosed at a very advanced stage after performing biopsy of middle ear tumor. This case report shows that NPC can present with very unusual findings like middle ear tumor.

Keyword

Eustachian tube; Middle ear tumor; Nasopharygeal carcinoma

MeSH Terms

Adult
Biopsy
Diagnosis
Ear
Ear, Middle*
Eustachian Tube
Female
Hearing Loss
Humans
Nasopharynx
Otitis Media
Otitis Media with Effusion
Tympanic Membrane
Tympanic Membrane Perforation