Hemangioma of temporal bone: clinical case

Abstract

Vascular tumors often localized in the region of head and neck. Intraosseous hemangiomas localized mainly in the vertebrae and in the skull bones, but they are rarely found in the temporal bone. More often, intratemporal hemangiomas are localized in the internal auditory canal or in the area of the geniculate ganglion and Scarpas ganglion, due to the abundant blood supply of these areas. In other areas of the temporal bone, hemangioma is extremely rare. The symptoms depend on the localization and  size of the tumor. The main clinical manifestations of the disease: facial nerve palsy, hemifacial spasm, cochleovestibular symptoms. The data of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are non-specific. Angiography is recommended to identify the anatomical features of the vessels like aberrant internal carotid artery, high jugular bulb), the blood supply of the tumor and the possibility of embolization, which significantly reduces the risk of bleeding and damage to important anatomical structures of the temporal bone during surgery. Differential diagnosis is carried out with many diseases of the temporal bone: cholesteatoma, glomus tumor, shwannoma of the VII and VIII cranial nerves, Langerhans cell histiocytosis, rhabdomyosarcoma, etc. Surgical treatment is the method of choice and allows to completely resect the tumor. The article presents a  clinical case of intratemporal hemangioma in a patient with a long term symptom of hearing loss.