Glomus tympanicum removal using transcanal endoscopic assisted surgery: An experience with six cases.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate an endoscopic approach in the management of glomus tumor, and also to investigate and evaluate its appropriateness and feasibility.

METHODS: Glomus tumors, also known as paragangliomas, are benign primary tumors of the middle ear. The advent of endoscopic ear surgery has provided new dimensions to the management of this highly vascular tumor. Retrospective analysis of six patients of glomus tympanicum, operated between July 2014 and June 2019, with modified Fisch classification Type A and B1, who were managed by a retroauricular transcanal endoscopic approach. Preoperative and postoperative analysis was done for these patients.

RESULTS: The chief complaint was pulsatile tinnitus, which disappeared in five cases and reduced in severity in one of them. Hearing was improved with reduction in air-bone gap in all the cases. No major complications or recurrence were observed in any of the patients after 12 months of follow-up.

CONCLUSION: This endoscopic approach serves as a safe and reliable technique for tumor removal. It thus provides postoperative comfort for most of the patients.