Primary mastoid cyst

Abstract

This report describes the experience gained by the diagnosis and management of this patient. It emphasises the importance of clinical vigilance so that proper treatment may be instituted in a timely manner.

Primary mucocele of the mastoid: An incidental finding

“…Most cases were asymptomatic and discovered due to a silent swelling that eroded the mastoid lateral or anterior wall . Symptoms correlated with an inflammatory process were sometimes reported, whereas only once was the mucocele an incidental finding as in our patient . The only patient where the cyst caused hearing loss was due to ear canal collapse secondary to erosion of the anterior wall of the mastoid cavity .…”

“…Only a few reports of primary mastoid mucocele have been published in the literature (Table ) . Most cases were asymptomatic and discovered due to a silent swelling that eroded the mastoid lateral or anterior wall .…”

“…Differential diagnosis of lesions causing erosion of the temporal bone includes inflammatory lesions such as cholesterol granuloma or cholesteatoma, extracranial cysts like epidermoid or dermoid cysts, intracranial lesions such as epidermoids or subarachnoidal cysts, histiocytosis, lymphoproliferative disorders, and solid tumors like schwannomas, tympanic‐jugular paragangliomas, meningiomas, gliomas, giant cell tumors, osteomas, ossifying fibromas chordomas, and primary or metastatic carcinomas …”

“…In case of mastoid mucoceles, surgical treatment is indicated because of their expansive tendency causing bone erosion and invasion of surrounding structures with the risk of developing infections and intra‐extracranial complications . Appropriate surgical treatment is complete removal of the lesion through mastoidectomy to reduce the risk of recurrence without increasing the risk of morbidity …”

“…The obstruction of a natural drainage pathway is considered the pathogenetic basis of a mucocele, although a mucous retention cyst that gradually enlarges has been suggested as an alternative hypothesis in temporal bone . Within temporal bone, primary or secondary mucoceles have been only rarely observed with few descriptions prevalently in the mastoid . We present a new case of primary mastoid mucocele that was an incidental finding during work‐up for progressive sensorineural hearing loss.…”