Background
Rhabdomyosarcoma is common in childhood, especially, the head and neck region, yet involvement of the temporal bone is rare.
Case presentation
We reported a case of an embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in a 4.5-year-old boy presenting with external auditory canal polyp and purulent otorrhea that later developed grade 6 facial palsy. Imaging showed soft tissue mass involving the middle ear, mastoid cavity, parotid gland, and parapharyngeal space. Subtotal petrosectomy with blind closure of the external auditory canal was performed with facial nerve decompression and debulking biopsy followed by combined chemoradiation.
Conclusion
Middle ear rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare pathology, usually present in childhood by symptoms similar to suppurative otitis media not responding to medical treatment leading to delayed diagnosis and development of complications.
Middle ear (ME) benign tumors are rare, and among them is meningioma. An ME meningioma might be isolated or merely a lateral extension of a CPA meningioma. We report a case with presentation of ME effusion followed by the appearance of an aural polyp after repeated myringotomies. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a benign-looking ME and mastoid mass. After debulking and biopsy, it turned out to be a meningioma. However, when MRI was performed, a large CPA meningioma was detected. ME masses are rare; however, they might be encountered, and CT must be performed followed by biopsy or total removal. In case of detection of a tumor with probable intracranial connection as meningioma, an MRI should be performed to exclude intracranial extension.
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