The middle ear plays an integral part in the ability to hear. The middle ear transmits sound energy from the eardrum to the inner ear, which then transmits signals into neural signals. Middle ear tumors, or growths, occur in the area behind the eardrum, and can be benign or cancerous. Even benign tumors can damage the structure of the middle ear and interfere with hearing.
Types
Benign tumors occur more often than cancerous tumors in the middle ear. The most common type of tumor in the ear, a cholesteatoma, is a benign tumor. Glomus tumors, usually benign tumors can metastasize, or spread, and generally grow quite large, often growing into the mastoid bone, the Ear Surgery Information Center reports. Facial nerve neuromas, which arise in the facial nerve, are uncommon and also benign, but can cause significant symptoms. Polyps and cholesterol granulomas can also grow in the middle ear.
Cancerous tumors of the middle ear are usually squamous cell carcinomas, which normally arise in people with chronic ear or mastoid bone infection and drainage.
Causes
Middle ear tumors don’t have a single cause; different types of tumors grow from different structures. Cholesteatomas often form after eardrum rupture or from chronic inflammation of the middle ear, otolaryngologist Mark Laury, M.D. reports on his website, advanced Otolaryngology. Congenital cholesteatomas can also form from remnants of embryonic tissue. Cholesterol granulomas develop after hemorrhage in the middle ear.
Symptoms
Symptoms from middle ear tumors vary according to the type of tumor. Cholesteatomas cause hearing loss, but can also cause drainage and possibly facial paralysis or vertigo, if the tumor erodes through the bony canal. Glomus tumors cause pulsatile tinnitus, a pulsating sound heard in the ear on the side of the tumor and hearing loss. Facial nerve neuromas can cause facial paralysis. Squamous cell tumors cause pain, drainage, bleeding and significant hearing loss, the Ear Surgery Information Center states.
Treatments
Surgery can remove most types of middle ear tumors. Radiation therapy is often used after cancerous tumor removal, usually after surgical removal of the tumor, the National Health Services Foundation Trust reports.
Complications
Any type of middle ear surgery can interfere with an individual’s ability to taste, due to possible damage to a nerve that runs through the middle ear to the front part of the tongue, Dr. Laury notes. Damage to the facial nerve can also complicate middle ear surgery. Extensive tumor removals can result in complete hearing loss and loss of balance.
