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A Case of Fungal Ball with Cholesterol Granuloma in the Middle Ear Cavity

  • Kim, Su Geun (Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Chonbuk National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Eun Jung (Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Chonbuk National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Yoo, Ji Seob (Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Chonbuk National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Yeo, Cha Dong (Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Chonbuk National University College of Medicine)
  • Received : 2019.08.28
  • Accepted : 2019.10.24
  • Published : 2020.10.20

Abstract

Fungal balls consist of rounded conglomerates of fungal mycelia, which can form within a preexisting cavity. They are mostly found in the paranasal sinuses in the head and neck regions. Cholesterol granuloma is a fibrotic lesion that develops as a tissue response to a foreign body such as cholesterol crystals or hemosiderin and is often associated with chronic otitis media. We present the unusual case of a 62-year-old male who was treated for chronic otitis media, which was histologically confirmed as a fungal ball and cholesterol granuloma in the middle ear cavity following tympanomastoidectomy. This is the first reported case of synchronous fungal ball and cholesterol granuloma in the middle ear cavity.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This paper was supported by Fund of Biomedical Research Institute, Chonbuk National University Hospital.

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