Mature teratoma of the middle ear

Objective: The authors report a case of mature teratoma of the middle ear i n a 3-year-old girl with a 1-year history of otitis media. Methods and Results: Radiologic investigation revealed a partially cystic l esion of the petrous portion of the right temporal bone. It produced opacif ication of the middle ear as well as destruction of septal air cells. The p atient underwent a subtotal petrosectomy. Histologically. the tumor was com posed of an intimate admixture of mature tissues representing all three ger m layers, including brain. myelinated nerve trunks, skeletal muscle, bone, immature cartilage, seromucinous glands, and respiratory epithelium. Of not e within the brain tissue was choroid plexus within an ependyma-lined rudim entary ventricle. Immunohistochemical studies were also performed. Twenty m onths after surgery, the patient was well. with complete recovery from symp toms. Conclusion: Teratomas of the middle ear are rare neoplasms. Only a few exam ples have been reported. As a rule, they are cured by resection and do not require adjuvant therapy.