Treatment of a local recurrence of a carcinoid tumor of the middle ear by extended subtotal petrosectomy.

A recurrence of a primary carcinoid tumor of the middle ear 15 years after radical tympanomastoidectomy is reported. An extended subtotal petrosectomy using a craniocervical approach with temporary infracondylar mandibulotomy was performed, since imaging studies demonstrated an extensive tumor with a close relationship to the tegmen tympani, facial nerve, and ascending and horizontal portions of the carotid canal. The tumor was metabolically inactive. Histopathological examination showed a solid, trabecular tumor that was positive for pancytokeratin Lu5, neuron-specific enolase, pancreatic intestinal polypeptide and glucagon. Neuroendocrine-granules were demonstrable under electron microscopy. This case is reported to show that primary middle-ear carcinoid tumors can recur years after radical tympanomastoidectomy.