Aberrant jugular bulb presenting as a middle ear mass.

Case reports of 3 patients seen with a bluish mass behind the tympanic membrane are presented. The initial diagnosis was probable glomus tumor. In 1 patient, middle ear exploration confirmed the presence of a high-lying jugular bulb. In the other 2, venography demonstrated that the jugular bulb projected superiorly into the middle ear cavity. In all 3, polytomography demonstrated a dehiscence of the bony septum which normally separates the jugular bulb from the hypotympanum. When a bony dehiscence is seen in the absence of destructive changes, a diagnosis of aberrant jugular bulb is strongly suggested.