Metastatic disease of the temporal bone

This paper discusses metastatic disease of the temporal bone, and illustrates its discussion with a case history. The incidence, signs, symptoms, and treatment generally recorded are discussed. The histopathology of such lesions, as well as a documentation of those organ systems most likely to provide temporal bone metastatic spread, is noted. As with primary neoplasias of the temporal bone, metastatic disease may coexist with or mimic chronic otitis media. It is the wary surgeon who carefully analyzes his patient, the history, the intensity of signs, particularly pain — and, therefore, is prepared for the exigencies of recognizing neoplasia with or without associated chronic otitis media.