Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2008 Sep;51(9):850-853.

A Case of Metastatic Adenocarcinoma of Unknown Primary Origin Involving the Temporal Bone

• Chang KH
• Seo JH
• Choi SH
• Park YS

Abstract

The clinical appearance of metastatic lesions without an obvious primary source for the tumor is not uncommon event although modern diagnostic technology has improved. Metastatic neoplasms of unknown primary origin account for up to 2.1-11% of metastatic lesions in temporal bones. We recently experienced a case with metastatic adenocarcinoma of unknown primary origin involving the temporal bone. A 66-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of facial palsy and facial pain. She was diagnosed with metastatic adenocarcinoma in the temporal bone based on the pathologic findings but the primary origin was not found despite extensive diagnostic work-up for all suspicious sites. So we report this case with a review of related literatures.

Keyword

Temporal bone; Neoplasm metastasis; Unknown primary neoplasm; Adenocarcinoma

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma
Aged
Facial Pain
Facial Paralysis
Female
Humans
Neoplasm Metastasis
Neoplasms, Unknown Primary
Temporal Bone