[The high position of the jugular bulb in children].

INTRODUCTION: Variations of the vascular structures related to the temporal bone may cause important problems in diagnosis, treatment planing and surgery. A high jugular bulb is not an uncommon anomaly. It has been reported to occur in up to 6% of temporal bones. A high jugular bulb is often discovered as an asymptomatic, incidental finding. Case reports indicate that abnormal location of the jugular bulb may be the cause of some audiological problems. Conductive hearing loss in association with this anomaly may occur, but has been reported infrequently in the literature.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two children with high jugular bulb are presented.

RESULTS: One boy presented as a profuse bleeding from the right middle ear space after raising a tympanomeatal flap during surgery due to bilateral retraction pockets. Another one had unilateral conductive hearing loss with abberant, bluish mass seen behind tympanic membrane. CT revealed high position of jugular bulb in those patients. Results of otoscopic, audiological and radiological examinations are presented.

CONCLUSION: ENT specialists and otologic surgeons should be aware of this entity to perform differential diagnosis of conductive hearing loss and avoid penetration of the jugular bulb during surgery.