Abstract: Leiomyoma is a benign smooth muscle tumor of metastatic potential. In this paper we present the second reported case of leiomyoma in
the middle ear cleft in a 59-year old Saudi lady who presented with complaint of chronic left ear discharge for 15 years. Computed tomography
scan revealed soft tissue density with calcification in the epitympanum and mastoid antrum without bony erosion. The mass was successfully
removed by canal wall up mastoidectomy approach.Theoriginof leiomyoma is likely to be the smooth muscle of the vasculature of a middle ear
cleft, which is devoid of other smooth muscles.
Keywords: Leiomyoma; Benign smooth muscle tumor; Benign spindle cell proliferation; Granulomatous chronic otitis media; Ear
exploration
Abbreviations: SDS: Speech Discrimination Threshold; PTA: Pure Tone Audiometry; SMA: Smooth Muscle Actin; MSA: Muscle Specific
Actin; GFAP: Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
Introduction
Leiomyoma is a benign smooth muscle tumor of metastatic potential. [1]. Leiomyoma rarely occurs in the head a neck area, with reported prevalence of nearly 1% in adults, and 2.5% in children, with female preponderance [2]. The most common site of leiomyoma in the head and neck region is the lips (27.46%) followed by tongue (18.30%), cheeks and palate (15.49%), gingiva (8.45%) and mandible (5.63%) [2]. In the temporal bone the external ear is the commonest site of leimyoma [3-6,7], followed by inner ear [8-10]. Here we present the first reported case was vascular leiomyoma encasing the geniculate ganglion and the associated segments of facial nerve [11].
Case Report
This is a 59 year old Saudi lady, Arab ethnic, who is a known
case of untreated allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma for 20
years, mixed anxiety depression disorder for 5 years, lumbar
spondylosis, polyarthropathy with bilateral carpal tunnel
syndrome, and gastritis. She is not known to have diabetes
mellitus, hypertension, or other chronic disease of note. She
presented with complaint of intermittent yellowish left ear
discharge mixed with blood for 15 years, progressive reduction
in hearing of left ear and non-pulsatile tinnitus in left ear for
15 years, and a few attacks of rotational vertigo 6 months back,
lasted for a few minutes provoked by standing. No otalgia.
The patient had a past history of lower section Cesareansection
four times, and repairs of para-umbilical incisional hernias on 2 occasions. She also had strangulated viable bowel
secondary to adhesions with which required adhesiolysis and
omentectomy.
She is non-smoker and has no history of alcohol intake. There
is no family history of malignant disease.
On examination, she presents as well groomed elderly
women with clear anxiety. She was vitally stable. The right ear
examination showed dull retracted tympanic membrane and
healthy external canal. The left tympanic membrane had small
central wet perforation in the center of pars tensa with rolled
edges. Middle ear mucosa was not visible owning to the small
size of perforation. The external canal appeared healthy. No
granulation, or keratin debris were present. The secretions are
faint yellow-stained and odorless (there was large anterior hump
obstructing the view of anterior part of tympanic membrane).
Post-auricular area was normal. Nose examination revealed
pale mucosa, watery secretions, and moderate hypertrophy of
inferior turbinates. Septum was central. Throat was congested.
Neck examination showed no cervical lymphadenopathy and
facial nerve was intact. Cardiac, chest, abdomen, and lower limbs
examinations did not reveal significant findings.
Medications history include Paroxetine 25mg PO OD, Seretide
(fluticasone propionate/salmeterol xinafoate) inhaler 2 puffs
inhaled BID, Ventolin (salbutamol) inhaler 2 puffs inhaled PRN,
and ranitidine 150mg BID.
Blood investigations showed white blood cells WBC of 5.48
x 10ˆ9/L, Hemoglobin Hb 12.7 g/L, fasting glucose was 92 g/
dL, corrected calcium 9.0 mg/dL, alkaline phosphatase ALP 69
iu/L, CK 104 iu/L, lactate dehydrogenase LDH 201 iu/L.Pure tone
audiometry (PTA) of the left ear showed moderate mixed hearing
loss with excellent speech discrimination threshold (SDS). Pure
tone average was 51.3 dB. Right ear PTA and tympanogram were
normal. Dix-Hallpike maneuver was negative.
Computed tomography pre-contrast showed soft tissue
density with small calcification in left epitympanum and mastoid
antrum (Figure 1). Left mastoid air cells were sclerotic. Scutum
and ossicles are intact. No associated bony erosion. Normal
bilateral cerebropontine angles and internal auditory meatus
were found with no evidence of focal lesion or post-contrast
enhancement. Nose and paranasal sinuses are within normal.
Compared to the earlier conventional tomography scan done
in September 2009, the current computed tomography scan
showed no interval changes.
After seven years of declining surgery because of fears and
anxieties, on 22 December 2014, the patient finally underwent
left ear exploration by canal wall up and atticotomy approaches;
mastoid antrum and middle ear were filled with unhealthy
looking abnormal, granulation tissue, which was engulfing the
ossicles. The long process of incus was necrosed. The middle
ear mucosa was polypoidal. Middle ear and mastoid granulation
tissue was removed completely along with malleus and incus.
Dexamethasone-impregnated gelfoam was applied to the middle
ear cavity. Silk was applied lateral to the tympanic membrane
to facilitate healing. Postoperatively, patient was fit for home
discharge. Histopathological examinations revealed benign
spindle cell proliferation (immunological studies revealed
intensely positive for smooth muscle actin (SMA), muscle specificactin (MSA), desmin, and caldosmin and negative
forCD34,S100 and Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP))
consistent with leiomyoma (Figure 2).
Patient was reviewed at 2, and 4 weeks in outpatient clinic.
She complained of mild left facial weakness and autophony.
Silk covering the tympanic membrane was removed. Tympanic
membrane was of healthy appearance. There was grade 1 facial
weakness, which markedly improved on subsequent visits.
Autophony greatly reduced. Pure tone audiometry showed no
interval changes postoperatively.
Pelvic ultrasound was ordered to rule out uterine leiomyoma
of metastatic nature; there was no evidence of uterine leiomyoma
seen.
Discussion
Smooth muscle tumors of the head and neck region are
uncommon. They are reported more often in the nasal cavity
and paranasal sinuses, pharynx, oral cavity, and auricle. The
great majority of soft tissues tumors in the head and neck region
are of benign nature (96%) [5]. The primary site of occurrence
of leiomyoma in the body is the uterus (95%), followed by skin
(3%) then gastrointestinal tract (1.5%) [2]. Benign smooth
muscle tumors arising from the middle ear are very rare and
this case represents the second reported case of leiomyoma in
the English language literature to the best of our knowledge. The
first case(reported in 2013)in which vascular leiomyoma was
encasing the geniculate ganglion and the adjacent segments of
facial nerve, was completely removed by canal wall up approach
without injury to the facial nerve [11]. In the presenting case,
leiomyoma was completely removed by canal wall up approach
without evidence of recurrence during follow up.
Leiomyoma is classified by the World Health Organization
(1969) into three main variants; solid (conventional), vascular
(angioleiomyoma) and epithelioid (leiomyoblastoma) [2]. The
most common variants of leiomyoma in the head and neck
region are either the solid (71%) or vascular types originating
from smooth muscles of the vasculature (27%), followed by
epithelialoid type (1.2%) and mesectodermal type (0.8%)
[12,13].
Vascular leiomyoma was sub-classified by Mariamoto
in 1973 into capillary (solid type, 66%), venous (23%), and
cavernous (11%). Vascular leiomyoma are predominantly found
in the lungs [14], with venous type being the commonest in the
head and neck region [2,14]. In a review of 562 cases of vascular
leiomyoma over a 17-year period, only 48 were seen in the head
and neck [14]. In 1985, Barnes conducted literature review to
identify 257 cases of leiomyoma in the Head and Neck and he
found that 92 cases were associated with cervical esophagus,
58 with skin including skin of ear, 52 with oral cavity, 22 with
larynx, 12 with eye and orbit, 8 with nose and paranasal sinuses,
and the remainder are associated with trachea, salivary glands,
thyroid, bone of jaws, soft tissue of the neck, hypopharynx, wall of
thyroglossal duct cyst [12]. The majority of the reported cases of
leiomyoma in the temporal bone are vascular type [3-6,8-10,15].
In the presenting case the leiomyoma originated from the smooth
muscle of the vasculature of the middle ear, as there is no other
source of smooth muscles in the middle ear cleft.
Leiomyoma of vascular origin used to be known as
angiomyoma, and angioleiomyoma. However, vascular leiomyoma is the most wide accepted name given that it more
descriptive of the nature of the tumor [14].
Histopathological appearance of leiomyoma is characterized
by bundles of intersecting elongated spindle shaped cells, owing to
its smooth muscles origin [2], together with perinuclear vacuoles
and eosinophilic cytoplasm [13,15]. Secondary degenerative
changes of leiomyoma, such as edema, hyalinization, hemorrhage,
calcification, cystic degeneration, and rarely ossification, are
uncommon [13]. Leiomyoma can usually be differentiated from
most other spindle cell tumors by itspositive expression of smooth
muscle markers (Smooth muscle actin SMA, muscle specific actin
MSA and smooth muscle heavy chain myosin SMMS-1), vementin,
and may rarely be positive for desmin [13]. Although leiomyoma
is CD34 negative, in vascular leiomyoma is CD34 positive owing
to the labeling of the endothelial cells of the vascular spaces
[14]. Other spindle cell tumors that may express smooth muscle
markers and contain calcifications include myofibroma,which
contains a hybrid of smooth muscles and fibroblasts [13]. Masson
trichrome stain and SMMS-1 help differentiate myofibroma from
smooth muscle lesions in the head and neck region [13,17].
Active mitosis helps differentiate leiomyoma from
leiomyosarcoma; the presence of one or more active mitoses in
every five high-power fields, indicates probable malignant tumor,
and the presence of mitoses in every high-power field, indicates
certain malignancy [5]. If no active mitosis is seen, the tumor
is certainly benign. The presence of atypia suggests malignant
nature of tumor [16].
Leiomyoma has a potential to metastasize to distant sites, despite its benign nature and well-differentiated appearance. In
1939, Steiner proposed as first the contradictory term of benign
metastasizing fibroleiomyoma [19]. There are just less than 100
reported cases of benign metastasizing leiomyoma in the English
literature. Lung is known to be the most common metastatic
site. In addition to lung, the extra uterine sites that these tumors
can localize to include skin, pelvis, abdomen, muscle, greater
omentum, inferior vena cava, right atrium, brain and bones [20].
Ultrasound scan of the pelvis did not show uterine leiomyoma
in the presenting case, which rules out benign metastasizing
leiomyoma to a great extent. Skeptics casted doubts about
the existence of such benign metastases. Paley and Fornasier
reviewed 10 cases of leiomyosarcoma with bone metastasis. In
eight of the ten patients the primary tumor of the uterus was
initially diagnosed as a leiomyoma but, after review, appeared to
be an unrecognized low-grade leiomyosarcoma [1]. Therefore,
if a primary tumor is found then careful histopathological reexamination
is warranted.
Proposed theories to describe the origin of vascular
leiomyoma include progression from aberrant undifferentiated
mesenchyme, progression from vascular malformation, and
neoplastic proliferation of smooth muscles of the walls of the
vasculature [14]. Provocative factors for disease are theorized to
include trauma, steroid therapy, and hormonal imbalance [18].
Leiomyoma usually presents as a slowly growing small
spherical mass, which can be painful in solid type and painless in
venous and cavernous types, and causes no complications [20,21].
In the presenting case the patient had ear discharge for 15 years
before consenting to undergo surgery, and no complications from
the disease were observed.
The chief differential diagnosis of leiomyoma in the middle
ear is granulomatous otitis media. Besides granulomatous
otitis externa differential diagnosis include cholesterol
granuloma, cholesteatoma, calcified vascular malformation,
soft tissue osteoma, schwannoma, neurofibroma of facial
nerve, paraganglioma, hemangioma, vascular malformation,
fibrous dysplasia, myositis ossificans, meningoencephalocoele,
extracrainal meningioma, lymphatic malformation, adenoma
(includes epithelial and neuroendocrine carcnoid types),
myospherulosis, endolymphatic sac tumor, schneiderian-type
mucosa papilloma (includesfungiform, inverted, and oncocytic
types), choristoma, Langerhans cell histocytosis (Eosinophilic
granuloma type), angiofibroma, angiomyolipoma, and
angiomyosarcoma.
Computed tomography of leiomyoma demonstrates nonspecific
appearance of well-defined homogenously enhanced
mass [22].
Proper treatment of leiomyoma is complete extirpation
[5,15]. This will also help establish histopathological diagnosis
if the diagnosis is uncertain. The surgical approach varies
according to the site involved and extent of tumor. In this case
typical middle ear exploration by classic canal wall up approach
was employed to extirpate the tumor.
Recurrence of leiomyoma is very rare even with positive
resection margins. Billings et al. [22] had only one recurrence out of 36 operated cases, 10 of which had positive resection margins.
While Yoon et al. [20] had no recurrence in any of 12 head and
neck cases after mean follow up of 52 months.
Conclusion
In conclusion, although leiomyoma of temporal bone is very rare benign tumor, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of mass lesions in patients with risk factors. Surgical extirpation appears to carry an excellent prognosis.
Acknowledgement
We would like to acknowledge the effort of Dr Yasser Al Nufaily w helped with the surgical aspect in the care for this case.
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Figure 1: A. Coronal Computed Tomography of the left middle ear demonstrating obliterative soft tissue density originating from left mastoid antrum [hollow star], travelling via aditus to the middle ear posterior epitympanum [solid short arrow] and completely obliterating it. This soft tissue density is partially delimited by the cog [short thin arrow] anteriorlyresulting in only partial obliteration of the anterior attic [hollow short arrow]. Note the sclerotic mastoid [hollow diamond], intact head of malleus [intermediate thin arrow] and intact body and short process of incus [long thin arrow]. B. and C. Sagittal views showing intact scutum [short white arrow] and intact body and long process of incus [long white arrow].
Figure 2: Photomicrographic panel of middle ear mass. A. Hematoxylin and eosin stained section (intermediate magnification) demonstrating well circumscribed soft tissue mass with spindle shaped lesional cells with blunt ended nucleus and had a moderate amount of cytoplasm with indistinct outline. There was no evidence of mitosis or necrosis. A blood vessel closely related to the lesional cells is demonstrated in the right upper corner of photograph]. B. Immunohistochemical stain for smooth muscle actin (SMA) demonistrate diffuse strong reactivity. C. Immunohistochemical stain for muscle specific actin (SMA) demonistrate diffuse strong reactivity.