Recurrent endometrial carcinoma metastasis to the temporal bone and skull base

A 62-year old woman presented with a 1-month history of left otalgia, facial palsy and hearing loss. She had a background of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and stage 2 endometrial adenocarcinoma, treated 18 months ago. Computed tomography scan showed erosion of the skull base and temporal bone. She was referred to the otolaryngology team with a diagnosis of necrotising otitis externa. On clinical examination, there was an exophytic, necrotic lesion in the ear canal arising from the posterior canal wall. A subsequent magnetic resonance imaging scan showed a lesion located in the left jugular foramen extending into the middle ear, with characteristics consistent with a glomus jugulo-tympanicum. Interestingly, histology of the lesion showed malignant cells with immunohistochemical staining suggestive of an adenocarcinoma. This is the first reported case of metastatic endometrial carcinoma involving the jugular foramen and temporal bone. Although a diagnosis is rare, it is important to consider it when other differential diagnoses are not fitting. Imaging should always be interpreted with caution, correlating to the clinical findings.