KTP LASER-ASSISTED EXCISION OF GLOMUS TYMPANICUM

A 39-year-old female with a two-year history of mild hearing loss and discomfort on air flight descent was found to have a pulsatile mass be hind an intact tympanic membrane. A suspected diagnosis of glomus tymp anicum was confirmed by computed tomography (CT) scan imaging. The les ion filled the mesotympanum and hypotympanum but the jugular bony plat e was intact, confirming the tympanic site of the lesion. This very va scular tumour was exposed by a lympanomeatal flap and the KTP laser us ed to shrink and coagulate the tumour progressively with minimal haemo rrhage and blood loss. Complete excision of the lesion was achieved wi thout the need for bony removal, and with minimal blood loss. The use of the KTP laser to coagulate this vascular lesion allowed safe remova l of the tumour and avoided the need for extended facial recess or hyp otympanotomy surgery.