title: External auditory canal meningioma: imaging features in a series of three cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Direct extension of an intracranial meningioma to involve the temporal bone is rare. Recognised sites of origin and routes of access to the middle ear and labyrinthine apparatus have been described. Direct spread through the temporal bone to primarily involve the external auditory canal has not been widely reported in the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  This paper discusses clinical and radiological findings in three cases of temporal bone meningioma presenting as masses within the external auditory canal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diagnosing temporal meningioma can be challenging because of its rarity and the often non-specific clinical and histological findings. It is important for both the surgeon and radiologist to be aware of the diagnosis and its related imaging findings in order to facilitate a timely diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology,Freeman Hospital,Newcastle upon Tyne,UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology,Freeman Hospital,Newcastle upon Tyne,UK.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zammit-Maempel
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery,Freeman Hospital,Newcastle upon Tyne,UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D004428:Ear Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008579:Meningioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: External Ear; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Meningioma; Multidetector Computed Tomography; Temporal Bone