Middle ear odontoma: A case report and review of the literature

Introduction: Odontomas are benign neoplasms originating from odontogenic tissues. Most of these masses are asymptomatic and can only be diagnosed correctly via radiological studies. Treatment of choice for management of odontoma involves surgical excision to prevent secondary complications and result in a favourable prognosis.

Case presentation: This paper presents a rare case of odontoma of the middle ear in a four-year-old girl. The mass caused unilateral conductive hearing loss and facial nerve entrapment. We shed light on the typically vague clinical presentations of odontomas, as well as the available options in terms of diagnostic imaging modalities and their outcomes. Standard management of odontoma was followed to improve prognosis and avoid relapse. The aim of highlighting this case is to report on unique clinical, radiographical, and histological findings.

Discussion: Retrotympanic odontomas are extremely rare. Only five cases in the English-language literature have investigated such an incident. All of the reviewed cases were asymptomatic and discovered only using radiological evidence. Two cases were managed surgically while the remainder were conservatively managed.

Conclusion: In five of the six cases mentioned in the English-language literature (including this paper), odontomas occurred in the first decade of life, with an obvious female predilection. In one case, odontoma occurred in the third decade of life. Although odontoma is marked by its frequently benign origin, the absence of symptoms, and the necessity of surgical intervention, further studies are needed to analyse the different clinical pictures, and to allow these to add to what is currently known.