Man’s constant ear infection was sign of rare brain tumor

By Emily Kelly

A man was told that his ear infection was actually a sign of a rare brain tumor.

David Dingley, 76, noticed he wasn't hearing properly in June 2023, but assumed he had a bad cold.

His hearing issues persisted, and after multiple visits to his GP, he was diagnosed with an ear infection, and later diagnosed with a blocked eustachian tube and referred to an ear, nose and throat clinic.

The blockage continued for a year, and by September 2024, the issue was unresolved, so David was referred for an MRI scan at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

The scan revealed a lesion on his brain, and in November 2024, David underwent two more MRI scans at Southampton General Hospital and confirmed that the lesion was an oligodendroglioma - a rare type of brain tumor.

Currently, David is undergoing six-monthly scans due to the tumor's minimal blood supply.

David, retired, from Winchester, Hampshire, said: “I felt absolutely fine, no symptoms whatsoever.

"That’s what surprised me the most.

"I had no loss of balance, difficulty with language, no slurred speech, headaches or blurred vision.

"The diagnosis was shocking.”

David had made multiple visits to his GP since he noticed that he wasn't hearing properly.

He was first diagnosed with an ear infection and later a blocked eustachian tube and referred to an ear, nose and throat clinic.

Despite exercises to ease the blockage, the symptoms continued for more than a year.

By September 2024, with the issue still unresolved, David was referred for an MRI scan at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

Although the original symptoms had subsided, the scan revealed something unexpected, a lesion on his brain.

David said: “Lesion initially conjured up an image of something quite small.

"But as soon as I did a little research, I realized this could be serious and meant I had something significant happening to my brain.”

In November 2024, David underwent two more MRI scans at Southampton General Hospital to assess blood flow to the tumor.

Doctors diagnosed him with an oligodendroglioma, a rare type of brain tumor.

David was presented with three options: a biopsy, surgery, or continued monitoring.

As he was otherwise fit and healthy, and the tumor showed minimal blood supply, David chose active monitoring.

He now undergoes regular six-monthly scans, with his next one scheduled for later this month.

David said: “I would never have known I had a brain tumor. I still feel perfectly fine.

"But since my diagnosis, I’ve met so many others who’ve either experienced or lost someone to brain cancer.

"They are often told their symptoms are stress or migraines until something truly serious occurs."

David has been obliged to report his diagnosis to the DVLA but as he remains symptom-free and the tumor was discovered incidentally, he has retained his driving license.

Determined to raise awareness about how brain tumors can develop undetected and be masked by seemingly minor health issues, David is partnering with Brain Tumour Research and will walk 25km across 16 iconic London bridges on September 21, 2025, as part of the Thames Bridges Trek.

David said: "A time may come when my tumor will cause serious problems.

"But I am fortunate, at least I have the possibility of acting before it does.

"Any brain surgery, even biopsy, has risks and means you cannot drive for some time - which makes life difficult in today's world!.

"We need better options and more investment in early detection and non-invasive treatment.”

Brain tumors kill more men under 70 than prostate cancer, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumors since records began in 2002, according to the Brain Tumour Research.

Letty Greenfield, Community Development Manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “David’s story highlights how easily brain tumors can be missed and the urgent need for more research.

"We’re incredibly grateful for his efforts to raise awareness and funds. Every step he takes helps bring us closer to our goal: improving early diagnosis, treatment options, and ultimately finding a cure.”