title: Primary adenocarcinoma of the temporal bone mimicking paragangliomas: radiographic and clinical recognition.
abstract: Three cases of primary adenocarcinoma of the temporal bone which simulated a glomus jugulare tumor (on the basis of a thorough preoperative evaluation) are detailed. In each case, a vascular mass was seen beneath an intact tympanic membrane and angiography revealed the presence of a highly vascular mass centered on the jugular bulb. Computed tomography revealed erosive changes within the jugular fossa that were characteristic of a glomus jugulare tumor; in two cases, a significant posterior fossa extension was documented. The intraoperative findings failed to suggest a lesion different from paraganglioma in two of the cases; in the remaining case, the erosion of both bone and dura was diffuse and more suggestive of a malignant neoplasm. A discussion of the clinical behavior of adenocarcinomas of the middle ear is included in order to emphasize the importance of differentiating these lesions preoperatively from the more commonly encountered paragangliomas.
mesh_terms: D000231:Adenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004428:Ear Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012888:Skull Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed