Temporal bone central giant-cell granuloma presenting as a serous otitis media

Central giant cell granuloma is a benign intraosseous lesion that most commonly occurs in the facial bones. Its location in the temporal bone is extremely rare and only 20 cases have been reported in the literature. We report a case of an adult female patient presenting with a right serous otitis media and mastoiditis associated with a mixed hearing loss during 6 months. CT-scan and MRI revealed a temporal bone tumor involving the mastoid, and surrounding the right temporo-mandibular joint. Tumor was totally removed after a canal-wall-down mastoidectomy and middle ear exclusion. Pathology revealed a central giant cell granuloma. Seven months following the surgery there was no evidence of recurrence. Central giant cell granuloma is a rare temporal bone lesion, with non specific clinical and imaging signs but characteristic pathological features. Today, a total surgical removal and regular MRI follow-up is the best management option.