Otalgia - An isolated symptom of malignant infratemporal tumors

Objective: This study aimed to review a series of 18 patients with malignan t infratemporal fossa tumors who presented with otalgia as the primary symp tom. Study Design: This was a retrospective case analysis. Setting: All patients were evaluated and treated at a tertiary care academic medical institution . Patients: Eighteen patients evaluated for otalgia in a normal-appearing ear , between July 1988 and July 1996, who were found to have a malignant infra temporal fossa tumor participated. Interventions: Diagnostic testing included radiographic evaluations and tis sue sampling through fine-needle aspiration cytology. Treatment methods wer e histology dependent. Main Outcome Measures: The time between the onset of otalgia and the tumor diagnosis was recorded. Overall treatment outcomes were reviewed. Results: The period between the onset of otalgia and tumor diagnosis ranged from 4-21 months with a mean of 7.5 months. Adenoid cystic carcinoma was t he most commonly seen tumor in this series of patients. Conclusions: The infratemporal fossa is a relatively protected region that may be the site of malignant neoplasms causing the isolated symptom of otal gia.