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Chorda tympani neuroma masquerading as cholesteatoma

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2006

C. Hopkins ,
H. Chau  and
J. A. McGilligan
C. Hopkins
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, UK
H. Chau
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, UK
J. A. McGilligan
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, UK
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Abstract

Facial nerve neuromas occur throughout the course of the facial nerve and its branches, however lesions occurring on the chorda tympani branch are exceptionally rare.

We present a case where the diagnosis was made intra-operatively; the patient was pre-operatively thought to have had a cholesteatoma.

Total resection is the treatment of choice for these cases. Early diagnosis, aided by high resolution computed tomography (CT) scanning, will facilitate complete excision without damage to the facial nerve itself or the ossicular chain. The slow growing nature of the neuroma is likely to allow compensatory mechanisms to occur without the patient experiencing dysgeusia. As with any rarity the diagnosis can only be made with a high index of suspicion.

Keywords

Chorda Tympani NerveNeuromaTomographyX-Ray Computed
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 117 , Issue 12 , December 2003 , pp. 987 - 988
Copyright
© Royal Society of Medicine Press Limited 2003

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