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Living with Tympanic paraganglioma

A tumor of the middle ear that can cause ringing in the ear and hearing loss.

Understanding Tympanic paraganglioma

Tympanic paraganglioma is a benign or malignant tumor that grows from paraganglia (small clusters of nerve-related tissue) around the eardrum area.

Signs and symptoms include a mass behind the eardrum, ringing in the ear (tinnitus), and conductive hearing loss, in which sound doesn't pass well through the middle ear.

Signs & symptoms

GARD lists these signs and symptoms:

Mass behind the eardrum
Ringing in the ear (tinnitus)
Hearing loss (conductive)

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
See a specialist
Your doctor may refer you to a specialist who knows rare conditions.
Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
Connect with expert centers
Pheo Para Alliance may keep lists of experts for this condition.

Care & treatment

Care team: A doctor familiar with rare conditions, plus specialists as needed
Expert care: Expert lists: Pheo Para Alliance
Treatment: GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research: Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

Connect with Pheo Para Alliance
Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
Ask about patient registries that help research
Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits

Bring these questions to your next doctor visit

Is my tumor benign or malignant?

Which imaging tests show the size of the tumor?

Which specialists, such as an ear specialist, should be on my care team?

Quick facts

GARD doesn't describe a cause for this condition yet.

Also known as: glomus tympanicum paraganglioma; glomus tympanicum tumor; tympanic nerve tumor; tympanic nerve tumors; tympanic nerve tumour; tympanic nerve tumours

Patient organizations

Pheo Para AllianceTympanic paraganglioma · United States

Source: NIH GARD · Tympanic paragangliomaGARD ID 8658 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Tympanic paraganglioma.

Explore the Tympanic paraganglioma blog

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Explore research for Tympanic paraganglioma

Explore actively recruiting Tympanic paraganglioma studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Tympanic paraganglioma with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.

Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.

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