This study aimed to introduce a novel surgical approach for treating glomus tympanicum and to summarize the associated clinical experience in diagnosis and management. A retrospective review was conducted in 16 patients with pathologically confirmed tympanic paragangliomas who underwent radiofrequency coblation-assisted ear surgery via the otoendoscopic transcanal pathway in our hospital from January 2020 to January 2024. The indications and techniques for this surgical treatment were analyzed. Based on imaging and surgical findings, the 16 patients were classified according to the modified Fisch classification: 4 cases of Type A and 12 cases of Type B. All patients underwent complete tumor resection via the endoscopic transcanal pathway, with no need for preoperative angiography or embolization, and the tumors were completely resected by radiofrequency coblation in continuous irrigation mode during the operation. The tumor did not recur during 1–5 years of follow-up. This surgical method shows clear efficacy in treating tympanic paragangliomas classified as type A, B1, or B2 by modified Fisch classification, without the need for ossicular chain dissection.
Zhao et al. (Mon,) studied this question.