Temporal bone chondrosarcoma: Presentation of 4 cases and review of the literature

We describe 4 cases of chondrosarcoma of the temporal bone, which occurred in a 66-year-old man and in 3 women aged 34, 37, and 47 years. One of these patients was originally diagnosed with an epithelial cyst and another with a middle ear neoplasm. Three patients underwent surgical removal of their tumor, while the other patient declined (a craniotomy for biopsy was performed in this case). An accurate diagnosis in all 4 cases was not made until histopathologic examination was performed. None of the patients received postoperative radiotherapy for various reasons. However, the male patient experienced a tumor recurrence, which necessitated a second surgery, and he did receive radiotherapy after the second operation. All 3 operated patients were doing well at the most recent follow-up, and the other patient was soon lost to follow-up. Because of its rarity and potential for severe complications, temporal bone chondrosarcoma remains a difficult disease to diagnose and manage.