Tenosynovial giant cell tumor of the temporomandibular joint

Introduction:

Tenosynovial giant cell tumors are benign bone tumors commonly located near the long bone's joints. Rare manifestations are found at the skull base.

Case Report:

A 37-year-old female patient was admitted to our ENT department because of progressive hearing impairment and pulse-synchronous tinnitus left ear.

Seeing a vascularized tumor on the base of the external ear canal during clinical examination, CT and MRI scans showed a tumor of the temporal bone with intraosseous and extraosseous growth and contact to the ICA and the jugular foramen. Suspecting a glomus tumor, a somatostatin receptor PET showed only few expression without evidence of further manifestations. Consequently, extirpation of an unknown tumor was indicated.

During surgery, we saw a tumor filling out the external ear canal and destroying the osseous facial canal. There was no evidence of intracranial expansion. The tumor was removed completely via transcervical and retrofacial approach.

Histological examination showed a tenosynovial giant cell tumor of the temporomandibular joint, while dissociation of chondroblastoma was difficult due to the extraarticular location.

Conclusion:

Tenosynovial giant cell tumors of the skull base are rare. In this case, histological classification was only successful after additional extern expert opinions because of morphological resemblance to chondroblastoma.

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 April 2018 (online)