Middle ear lipoma as a mimicker of other diseases: a review of an unusual presentation

Abstract The finding of a lipoma in the middle ear is much rarer than its occurrence in the external auditory canal or even the inner ear, with fewer than seven cases described in the literature and none of them in Spain or South America. Despite its benign nature, the location of the lipoma may compromise structures that play a significant role in auditory preservation or balance control, necessitating surgical removal as a curative treatment. The main objective of this article is to describe the presentation of lipomas in the middle ear as a possible, although rare, etiology to consider in patients presenting with hearing loss, instability, or both symptoms concurrently, seeking otorhinolaryngological evaluation.