Schneiderian-type mucosal papillomas of the middle ear and mastoid

Five cases of schneiderian-type mucosal papillomas arising in the middle ear space are reported. The patients were all women, ranging in age from 19 to 57 years (median, 31 years). Clinical complaints - unilateral conductive hearing loss, pain, or otorrhea ranged from those lasting several months to recurrent problems spanning 20 years. All of the patients had a history of chronic otitis media predating the development of the papillomas; none of the patients had a history of sinonasal or nasopharyngeal schneiderian-type papillomas. Clinically, three patients had intact tympanic membranes, while the other two patients had perforated tympanic membranes through which a bulging polypoid mass was identified. Radiographic studies showed opacification of the middle ear space without evidence of osseous destruction. The intraoperative findings were of polypoid lesions filling the middle ear space, including involvement of the eustachian tube orifice. Histologically, the tumors were identical to sinonasal schneiderian papillomas. Immunohistochemical evaluation for human papillomavirus was negative. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice. In four of the patients, recurrent tumor was identified, necessitating additional surgery. In only one patient did the initial surgery result in complete ablation of the tumor. All patients are alive and free of recurrent disease over periods ranging from 6 months to 120 months (median, 84 months).