Bilateral non-serous cysts of eustachian tubes

Case contributed by Roberto Schubert
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Incidental finding in a patient with chronic headaches. Recurrent otitis media.

Patient Data

Age: 65 years
Gender: Female

Large bilateral epipharyngeal cysts. Right chronic mastoiditis probably from blockage of the Eustachian tube.

Case Discussion

The fluid signal within the cysts is not suppressed on FLAIR images. This is a typical finding in a lesion containing cholesterol or protein. The cysts are also slightly hyperintense on T1 when compared with CSF. Dermoid cysts have been described in this region 1, as well as various types of serous cysts 2.

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