Middle Ear and Temporal Bone Papilloma: A Clinicopathologic Study and Comprehensive Literature Review of 57 Cases

Sinonasal papilloma (SP), formerly Schneiderian papilloma, represents a rare group of benign epithelial neoplasms, most commonly identified in the sinonasal tract, while less frequently identified in the pharynx, lacrimal sac, and middle ear. Within temporal bone sinonasal-type papilloma (TBSP), there seems to be a much higher recurrence and malignant transformation risk than those identified in the sinonasal tract. Based on this clinical report and a review of the cases reported in the English literature, 49% of the 57 cases developed in the setting of concurrent or antecedent sinonasal or nasopharyngeal SP. There is an equal sex distribution (26 females and 31 males), with a broad age range (19–81 years) at presentation (median 56 years; average 54 years). Three patients had bilateral disease. Symptoms include a mass lesion with hearing loss, otitis media, otorrhea, otalgia, and tinnitus, among others. Inverted SP was identified in 42 patients, oncocytic SP in six, and exophytic SP in four (undefined in the remainder). Recurrence was identified in 38 of 49 patients with follow-up (78%), often with multiple recurrences over time, with carcinoma developing in the temporal bone in 19 patients (33%), with males developing carcinoma by a 1.7:1 ratio over females. Surgery was the treatment of choice (radical mastoidectomy) with 6 patients (10%) dead of disease (median 30 months, mean 38 months), while 47 patients were alive at last follow-up: 31 without disease (mean 33 months); 7 with locally recurrent disease (mean 20 months); 9 patients alive but with unknown disease status; and 4 patients without follow-up. In conclusion, TBSP is frequently identified in the setting of concurrent sinonasal tract disease, showing similar histologic features to sinonasal tract counterparts. There is no sex predilection, with patients most commonly presenting in the sixth decade of life. Recurrences are common, with carcinoma developing much more frequently than in sinonasal tract papilloma (33%), but recognizing that carcinoma may be documented in either or both anatomic sites. Overall outcome is excellent, with long term clinical follow-up warranted to manage recurrence or malignant transformation.