Salivary gland choristoma of the middle of intraoperative facial nerve monitoring

~a l iva ry gland choristoma is a rare tumor of the middle ear. This entity was first described by Taylor and Mart in ~ in 1961 and has since been reported 18 additional times. 2-18 Caplinger and Hora 4 recounted an additional case described to them by oral communication. Another case report of cylindroma of the tympanic cavity may have actually been a salivary gland choristoma. 19 Choristoma is defined as the presence of a histologically normal tissue in an ectopic location. 2° Salivary gland choristoma of the middle ear has been associated with congenital anomalies of the middle ear, and surgical biopsy has occasionally resulted in facial nerve injury. We present a case of salivary gland choristoma in which intraoperative facial nerve monitoring was helpful in aliowing safe biopsy without facial nerve damage.