An uncommon intra-extracranial meningioma of the lateral skull base

Extracranial meningiomas are rare tumors of the lateral skull base. A 37-ye ar-old woman presented with tinnitus und progressive hearing loss of her ri ght ear. A painful mass lesion was also palpable in her mandibular angle. C T and MRI scans revealed an intracranial mass with extension to the lateral skull base. These findings suggested the occurrence of a paraganglioma or meningioma. In a two-stage surgical procedure tumor was extirpated without functional impairment to the patient. Histology of the excised lesion demon strated an endotheliomatous meningioma. Since an extracranial meningioma ca n present as a mass lesion of the lateral skull base, CT and MRI scans are essential in preoperative surgical planning.