Primary temporal bone chondrosarcoma: experience with 10 cases

Abstract

Background: Temporal bone chondrosarcoma (TBC) are uncommon primary temporal bone malignancies, and clinicians lack experience in its diagnosis and treatment. The optimal management of patients with tumor of TBC also remains a topic of debate and controversy.

Objectives: This article summarizes the experience of diagnosis and treatment of TBC, in order to improve the quality of life of cancer patients in the future.

Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 10 patients who were referred to our hospital from June 2009 to June 2018 for the treatment of TBC.

Results: There were 3 males and 7 females. The most common presenting symptoms were facial paresis (50%) and hearing loss (40%), whereas otalgia (10%), vertigo (10%) and headache (10%) were less common. All tumors originated from the temporal bone, and 80% involved the jugular foramen area. All patients survived without evidence of disease at a median time of follow up of 28.8 months.

Conclusions and significance: TBC mostly originated in the middle ear mastoid area, and easily extended to the jugular foramen area. An individualized surgical procedure that removes tumors integrally with minimal nerve and blood vessel damage provides long-term cancer control and minimal morbidity in most cases.