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Facial nerve palsy secondary to middle-ear lipoma

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 April 2008

A V Kasbekar ,
N Donnelly  and
P Axon
A V Kasbekar
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
N Donnelly
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
P Axon*
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Patrick Axon, Consultant ENT Surgeon, ENT Department, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK. Fax:  + 44 (0)1223 217559 E-mail: patrick.axon@addenbrookes.nhs.uk
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Abstract

Objective:

We present the first reported case of a middle-ear lipoma presenting with facial nerve palsy. We review the available literature on middle-ear lipomas and alert the surgeon to the possibility of a lipoma occurring in this location.

Case report:

A 33-year-old man presented to our unit with a right-sided, House–Brackmann grade two, lower motor neurone facial palsy. A computed tomography scan revealed abnormal soft tissue in the epitympanic recess, extending to the region of the geniculate ganglion. At middle-ear exploration, a lump of fatty tissue was found filling the anterior middle-ear cleft, juxtaposed to the horizontal portion of the facial nerve. The patient's facial palsy resolved within a few weeks of surgery.

Conclusion:

Lipomas are a rare but real differential diagnosis of a mass in the middle ear. Early imaging is advised.

Keywords

Middle EarFacial ParalysisLipoma
Type
Online Only Clinical Record
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 122 , Issue 6 , June 2008 , e14
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2008

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