Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma in the neck invading the facial canal--a case report

The results of histopathologic examination of the temporal bone of a 71-year-old woman with squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil and ipsilateral facial palsy are presented. The right temporal bone was directly involved by metastatic spread of the primary lesion to the right upper cervical lymph nodes. Tumor cells had invaded the canal of the facial nerve, the chorda tympani nerve, and the stapedius muscle, as well as the air cells in the mastoid region. However, although tumor cells had infiltrated the facial canal to a considerable distance from the metastatic tumor mass, the facial nerve had not been infiltrated. Slight degeneration of the facial nerve, however, was observed and appeared to have been caused by compression by the tumor.