METASTATIC CARCINOMA OF THE TEMPORAL BONE

Metastatic carcinoma of the temporal bone is rare and often not recogn ized because it can be either asymptomatic or overshadowed by other me tastases late in the disease course. Metastatic evaluation does not us ually include temporal bone imaging, and the temporal bone is not rout inely sectioned al autopsy, further contributing to unreported metasta ses. Two case reports of metastasis to the internal auditory canal are presented as well as a review of 139 such patients reported in the wo rld literature. Analysis includes types of tumor, specific sites of se condary malignancy within the temporal bone, and manifestations. Altho ugh uncommon, metastatic carcinoma of the temporal bone must be includ ed in the different diagnosis of any cochleovestibular or facial nerve disorder.