Metastatic Tumors

The most common primary tumors metastasizing to the temporal bone, in descending order of frequency, are those of the breast, kidney, lung, stomach, larynx, prostate, and thyroid.

Symptoms depend on the location of metastases within the temporal bone. Involvement of the external auditory canal, middle ear, mastoid, or eustachian tube can cause conductive hearing loss and pain; involvement of the internal auditory canal can cause sensorineural hearing loss, vertigo, and facial paralysis.

CT or MRI is done to delineate specific location and size of metastases, but diagnosis is confirmed by biopsy. Treatment depends on the location of the primary tumor and the type of cancer detected.

This topic was last updated June 2006.