Thomas Muelleman, MD

Professional Biography

Dr. Muelleman is an ear surgeon who specializes in treating diseases of the outer ear, middle ear, inner ear, temporal bone, and skull base. He is double board certified in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery as well as Adult and Pediatric Otology, Neurotology, and Lateral Skull Base Surgery.
Dr. Muelleman was born in Kansas City and enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and two children. He also enjoys cooking, listening to podcasts, and Kansas City Chiefs football.
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Education

University of Southern California
Undergraduate

University of Nebraska Medical Center
Doctorate

University of Kansas Department of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery
Residency

House Ear Clinic Los Angeles
Fellowship

Volunteer/Leadership Experience

• Otology & Neurotology, Guest Publication Reviewer
  2017-present
• American Academy of Oto-HNS Section for Residents and Fellows, Representative
  2015-2016
• Medical Mission Trip, Nicaragua
  2010
• Medical Mission Trip, Honduras
  2009
• House Ear Institute, Education Committee Member
  2019-2020
  
  

Published Works

• Muelleman TJ, Alonso J, Barnard ZR, Maxwell AK, Mahboubi H, Stefan M, Lekovic GP, Slattery WH, Brackmann DE. Hypercoagulability in Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery. Otol Neurotol. 2021 Feb 1;42(2):e222-e226. doi: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000002934. PMID: 33065597.
• Muelleman TJ, Maxwell AK, Peng KA, Brackmann DE, Lekovic GP, Mehta GU. Anatomic Assessment of the Limits of an Endoscopically Assisted Retrolabyrinthine Approach to the Internal Auditory Canal. J Neurol Surg B Skull Base. 2021 Jul;82(Suppl 3):e184-e189. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1712180. Epub 2020 May 26. PMID: 34306935; PMCID: PMC8289559.
• Muelleman TJ, Kavookjian H, Asmar J, Patel K, Nielsen D, Summers K, Tracy M, Noel-MacDonnell J, Staecker H, Ledbetter L, Weatherly R. Internal Auditory Canal Diverticula in Children: A Congenital Variant. Laryngoscope. 2021 May;131(5):E1683-E1687. doi: 10.1002/lary.29278. Epub 2020 Nov 17. PMID: 33200834.
• Muelleman T, Wilkinson, E, Brackmann DE. Management of Postoperative Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks. In: Otologic Surgery. 6th ed.; 2022.
• Muelleman T, Peterson J, Chowdhury N, Gorup J, Camarata P, Lin J. Individualized surgical approach planning for petroclival tumors using a 3D printer. J Neurol Surg B. 2015. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1566253.
• Muelleman T, Maxwell AK, Lopez I, et al. Histopathologic Characteristics of Internal Auditory Canal Diverticula. Otol Neurotol. 2019;40(6):e653‐e656. doi:10.1097/MAO.0000000000002256
• Muelleman TJ, Pippin K, Shew M, et al. The Size of Internal Auditory Canal Diverticula Is Unrelated to Degree of Hearing Loss. Laryngoscope. 2020;130(4):1011‐1015. doi:10.1002/lary.28155
• Muelleman T, Chowdhury N, Killeen D et al. Effect of Piecemeal vs En Bloc Approaches to the Lateral Temporal Bone on Survival Outcomes. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 2018;158(4):716-720. doi:10.1177/0194599818758994.
• Muelleman T, Ripley E, Wood V, Staecker, H. The central auditory system and cochlear implantation: using olfactory testing to evaluate a potential central component in cochlear implant performance. Journal of Hearing Science. 2017 Mar; 7(1): 27-32.
• Muelleman T, Kavookjian H, Lin J, Staecker H. Hypertrophic Pachymeningitis of the Internal Auditory Canal: A Rare Case of Unilateral Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss. Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology. 2018;127(9):649-652. doi:10.1177/0003489418784051.
• Muelleman T, Bhalla V, Staecker H. A novel etiology for pneumolabyrinth after temporal bone fracture without otic capsule involvement. Ear, Nose, & Throat Journal. 2017 Oct-Nov; 96(10-11):E40-42. PMID: 29121383
• Muelleman T, Shew M, Alvi S et al. Endoscopically Assisted Drilling, Exposure of the Fundus through a Presigmoid Retrolabyrinthine Approach: A Cadaveric Feasibility Study. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. 2017;158(1):155-157. doi:10.1177/0194599817733665.
• Muelleman T, Shew M, Muelleman R et al. Impact of Resident Participation on Operative Time and Outcomes in Otologic Surgery. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. 2017;158(1):151-154. doi:10.1177/0194599817737270.
• Muelleman T, Lin J. A large vestibular schwannoma after recent, negative MRI: a case report. Ear, Nose, & Throat Journal. Ear Nose Throat J. 2016 Apr-May;95(4-5):E24-6.
• Muelleman T., Lin J. Bell’s Palsy. In: Mitchell R, Pereira K, ed. Case Studies in Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, and Audiology: a Preparatory Review. 2nd ed.; 2017.
• Muelleman T, Shew M, Muelleman R et al. Obesity Does Not Increase Operative Time in Otologic Surgery. Otology & Neurotology. 2018;39(2):e103-e107. doi:10.1097/mao.0000000000001662.
• Muelleman T, Shew M, Subbarayan R, Shum A, Sykes K, Staecker H, Lin J. Epidemiology of dizzy patient population in a neurotology clinic and predictors of peripheral etiology. Otology & Neurotology. 2017 Jul;38(6):870-875. doi: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000001429.
• Muelleman T, Chowdhury N, Killeen D, et al. In Reply to: “Effect of Piecemeal vs En Bloc Approaches to the Lateral Temporal Bone on Survival Outcomes”. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018;159(3):595‐596. doi:10.1177/0194599818788026
• Maxwell AK, Muelleman T, Barnard Z, Slattery WH 3rd, Mehta GU, Lekovic GP. Clinical Significance of Middle Cerebellar Peduncle Ischemia After Translabyrinthine Vestibular Schwannoma Resection. Otol Neurotol. 2021 Aug 1;42(7):e930-e935. doi: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000003152. PMID: 33900231.
• Fatima N, Barnard ZR, Maxwell AK, Muelleman TJ, Slattery WH, Mehta GU, Wagner W, Lekovic GP. The Role of Intra-Operative Duplex Ultrasonography Following Translabyrinthine Approach for Vestibular Schwannoma. Front Surg. 2022 Apr 28;9:853704. doi: 10.3389/fsurg.2022.853704. PMID: 35574538; PMCID: PMC9096022.
• Maxwell AK, Mehta GU, Muelleman T, et al. Hypofractionated Robotic Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Vagal Paragangliomas: A Novel Treatment Strategy for Cranial Nerve Preservation [published online ahead of print, 2020 Mar 3]. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020;194599820910150. doi:10.1177/0194599820910150
• Boyd C, Shew M, Penn J, Muelleman T, et al. Postoperative Opioid Use and Pain Management Following Otologic and Neurotologic Surgery. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2020;129(2):175‐180. doi:10.1177/0003489419883296
• Pippin K, Muelleman T, Hill J, Leever J, Staecker H, Ledbetter L. Prevalence of Internal Auditory Canal Diverticulum and Its Association with Hearing Loss and Otosclerosis. American Journal of Neuroradiology. 2017;38(11):2167-2171. doi:10.3174/ajnr.a5399.
• Shew M, Muelleman T, Villwock M et al. Therapeutic Mastoidectomy Does Not Increase Postoperative Complications in the Management of the Chronic Ear. Otology & Neurotology. 2017:1. doi:10.1097/mao.0000000000001609.
• Maxwell AK, Muelleman T, Brackmann DE. Congenital Cholesteatoma of the Sphenoid, Occipital, and Temporal Bones: 54-Year Follow Up. Otol Neurotol. 2020;41(5):e593‐e596. doi:10.1097/MAO.0000000000002601
• Shew M, Muelleman T, Harris M et al. Petrous Apex Pneumatization: Influence on Postoperative Cerebellopontine Angle Tumor Cerebrospinal Fluid Fistula. Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology. 2018;127(9):604-607. doi:10.1177/0003489418781934.
• Boyd C, Shew M, Penn J, Muelleman T, et al. Postoperative Opioid Use and Pain Management Following Otologic and Neurotologic Surgery. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2020;129(2):175‐180. doi:10.1177/0003489419883296
• Shew M, Kavookjian H, Dahlstrom K, Muelleman T, Lin J, Camarata P, Ledbetter L, Staecker H. Incidence and Risk Factors for Sigmoid Venous Thrombosis Following CPA Tumor Resection. Otology & Neurotology. 2018;39(5):e376-e380. doi:10.1097/mao.0000000000001806.
• Roh J, Muelleman T, Tawfik O, Thomas S. Perineural growth in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A review. Oral Oncology. 2015;51(1):16-23. doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2014.10.004
• Muelleman, T., Rosenberger, E., Humphrey, C. and Larsen, C.G. Parathyroid adenoma presenting as a giant cystic neck mass. International Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, 2016. 5, 23-27. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ijohns.2016.51004
• Muelleman T, Yalamanchali S, Shnayder Y. Bilateral pyriform sinus parathyroid adenomas. Ear Nose Throat J. 2018;97(3):E38‐E40. doi:10.1177/014556131809700307
• Bray H, Muelleman T, Bhalla V, Paulson L. Lingual foregut duplication cysts in the neonate: Potential role for marsupialization as initial management. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology Extra. 2016;12:10-13. doi:10.1016/j.pedex.2016.01.002.
• Bhalla V, Muelleman T, Hamill C et al. Synchronous Clival Chordoma and Sellar-Suprasellar Germinoma in a Pediatric Patient: Case Report and Review of Literature. Journal of Otolaryngology and Rhinology. 2017;3(1). doi:10.23937/2572-4193.1510031.
• Bhalla V, Muelleman T, Soliman H, Newell K, Chamoun R, Beahm D. Two cases of Sinonasal Teratocarcinosarcoma: Confounders, Treatment and Review of the Literature. Journal of Otolaryngology and Rhinology. Submitted April 2017.
• Wichova H, Subbarayan R, Muelleman T, Kakarala K. Rhabdomyolysis in a Morbidly Obese Patient After Oral Cavity Free Flap Reconstruction. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;71(Suppl 1):752‐754. doi:10.1007/s12070-018-1535-9
  
  

Honors & Awards

• North American Skull Base Society Research Grant
  2019
• President’s Award First Place at AOS Poster Session COSM 2016
  2016
• Third Place Award at AOS Poster Session COSM 2017
  2017
• Oscar T. Pinsker Otology Resident Award
  2016
• AAO-HNS/F Resident Leadership Grant
  2017
• Book Award for Excellence on ABOto Inservice Examination
  2014-2017
• Walter Cassidy Award for Most Outstanding Senior Student in Otolaryngology
  2013
• Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honors Medical Society
  2012
  
  

Organizations

• Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honors Medical Society
• American Academy of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery
• American Neurotology Society
• Kansas City Society of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology
  
  

Advanced Training/Specialties

• Hearing loss
• Cochlear implantation
• Otosclerosis
• Cholesteatoma and chronic ear disease
• Ear drum perforations
• Temporal brain hernias and cerebrospinal fluid leaks
• Tumors of the ear, temporal bone, and skull base including acoustic neuromas, vestibular schwannomas, meningiomas, and carcinomas
• Superior semicircular canal dehiscence
• Facial nerve disorders
• Stereotactic radiosurgery
• Eustachian tube balloon dilation