[Glandular tumors of the middle ear: a case of primary ceruminous adenoma].

Primitive glandular neoplasms of the middle ear are a rare entity. Under this definition epithelial neoplasms are classified according to structure as adenomas or adenocarcinomas, with intact tympanic membrane. Review of the literature shows that four histopathological patterns can be identified among these neoplasms: adenoma, adenocarcinoma, ceruminous adenoma and ceruminous adenocarcinoma. The present work describes a case of primitive ceruminous adenoma of the middle ear (6 cases have been reported in the literature) discovered during exploratory tympanotomy performed on a presumed otitis media which had not responded to medical treatment. The case description is followed by a review of the literature on the subject. The rarity of such neoplasms arises from this review as well as the fact that the histogenesis of ceruminous neoplasms of the middle ear is not clearly defined. Further study is required and more reports need be made in order to establish the best therapeutic approach to such neoplasms. It is the authors' opinion that the term "ceruminoma" is a generic term and not a clear definition and that its use in labeling the most various neoplasms of the middle and external ear must be abandoned.