Chondroblastoma of the Temporal Bone : A Case Report

Abstract

  A 38 year-old female presented with progressive right hearing disturbance that had persisted for 4 years. A CT scan showed a partially enhanced lesion in the right temporal bone invading the cochlea, the superior semicircular canal and a part of the temporomandibular joint. Her facial nerve function was intact. A diagnosis of chondroblastoma was made by transmeatal biopsy. A subtemporal approach was used to surgically remove the tumor. The dura mater was not invaded by the tumor and the surgical removal was limited thereby preserving facial nerve function. However, she developed mild facial nerve palsy postoperatively but it resolved within a year. The final pathological diagnosis was chondroblastoma. We report this case because chondroblastoma of the temporal bone is extremely rare and the recurrence rate is reported not to be low so close follow-up observation is required.