Case Report

Uncommon variant of lipoma of eustachian tube as a cause of middle ear effusion

10.5455/gulhane.169252

  • Umit Aydın
  • Mehmet Burak Asık
  • Omer Karakoc
  • Bulent Kurt

Received Date: 13.09.2014 Accepted Date: 01.02.2015 Gulhane Med J 2016;58(2):186-189

A 43-year old male patient was admitted to our clinic with complaints of a sensation of fullness and hearing loss in the right ear for four months. Otoscopic examination revealed the presence of air-fluid level behind the tympanic membrane in the right ear. Fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopy showed a wellcircumscribed, about 5 mm in diamater, round-shaped mass on the pharyngeal orifice of the right eustachian tube. En bloc surgical resection of the mass was achieved by endoscopic approach. Histopathological findings were consistent with fibrolipoma. Fibrolipoma, a benign tumor, is one of the uncommon variant of lipoma. Eustachian tube is a very unusual location for fibrolipoma. Primary tumors of the eustachian tube should be kept in mind as a cause of middle ear effusion. This case emphasizes importance of detailed endoscopic examination of the nasopharynx in patients with unilateral middle ear effusion.

Keywords: Fibrolipoma, Eustachian Tube, Nasopharyngoscopy