Transcanal endoscopic ear surgery for glomus tympanicum removal: A case series on the necessity of preoperative embolization

Hyun-Ju Jo; Seok-Hyun Kim; Hyun-Min Lee; Il-Woo Lee

doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2023.104193

Transcanal endoscopic ear surgery for glomus tympanicum removal: A case series on the necessity of preoperative embolization

Am J Otolaryngol. 2024 Mar-Apr;45(2):104193. doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2023.104193. Epub 2023 Dec 14.

Authors

Hyun-Ju Jo¹, Seok-Hyun Kim², Hyun-Min Lee², Il-Woo Lee³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, 179 Gudeok-ro, Seo-gu, Busan 49241, Republic of Korea.
² Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, 20, Geumo-ro, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea.
³ Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, 20, Geumo-ro, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: entgate@pusan.ac.kr.

PMID: 38134848
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2023.104193

Abstract

Background: Transcanal endoscopic ear surgery (TEES) has become popular in recent years in the treatment of glomus tympanicum tumors (GTT). The most significant risk for TEES is bleeding. In some cases, preoperative vascular embolization is performed to mitigate bleeding during TEES. However, guidelines regarding the necessity and efficacy of preoperative vascular embolization have not been established yet.

Case presentation: This report aimed to assess the necessity and usefulness of preoperative vascular embolization in TEES for GTT by comparing the surgical findings of TEES without preoperative vascular embolization (Case 1) and TEES with preoperative vascular embolization (Case 2). Compared to Case 1, Case 2 included less bleeding and a more convenient procedure. However, no significant difference was observed.

Conclusions: For GTT confined to the middle ear cavity (Glasscock-Jackson Grade II or less), when performed by a proficient otolaryngologist, TEES alone is sufficient without preoperative vascular embolization.

Keywords: Embolization; Endoscopic ear surgery; Glomus tympanicum.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Ear, Middle / surgery
Embolization, Therapeutic*
Endoscopy
Glomus Tympanicum Tumor* / surgery
Glomus Tympanicum*
Humans
Otologic Surgical Procedures*