Poorly Differentiated Fibrosarcoma (Spindle Cell Sarcoma) Involving the Temporal Bone

Abstract

A case of metastatic fibrosarcoma of the temporal bone was studied histopathologically. The primary site of this tumor was the posterior neck region. The initial major symptom of the patient was a left facial nerve paralysis. Although the patient underwent a suboccipital posterior craniectomy, radio-, and chemotherapy, she eventually died from multiple metastases. Histological examination of the temporal bones showed an extensive tumor invasion in the external auditory canal, middle ear cavity, middle ear muscle, tympanic membrane, mastoid cavity, petrous apex, facial nerve, and superior division (distal segment) of the vestibular nerve (left ear). The route from the stylomastoid foramen to the superior division of the vestibular nerve via the facial nerve canal could be one of the possible passages of tumor invasion.