Metastatic adenocarcinoma of the temporal bone

Metastatic carcinoma involving the temporal bone is an unusual occurrence. A review of the world literature reveals a total of 102 reported cases. Secondary cancers of the temporal bone arise most frequently from mammary, renal, and bronchogenic carcinomas, all of which show a tendency to metastasize to bone. The pathogenesis of spread to the temporal bone is most commonly by the hematogenous route, but extension from intracranial involvement has also been noted. The symptoms of facial nerve paralysis, otalgia, and aural discharge are consistently associated with patients found to have aural cancers. These symptoms are, however, most frequently indicative of mastoid infection; it is therefore, imperative to consider the possibility of a malignant neoplasm in patients with these symptoms.