Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2015 Jun;58(6):429-432. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2015.58.6.429.

Malignant Melanoma of the Temporal Bone Initially Presenting with Dizziness

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Uijeongbu, Korea. gadori@catholic.ac.kr

Abstract

Malignant melanoma of the temporal bone is a very rare disease. We report here a case of malignant melanoma of the temporal bone initially presenting as dizziness. The patient was a 48-year-old man presenting with dizziness. Physical examination showed horizontal nystagmus toward the left on the left lateral gaze and an intact tympanic membrane. Caloric tests demonstrated right-sided unilateral weakness. Vestibular neuritis was suspected, and conservative treatment was thus carried out. On follow-up, other symptoms were noted and the tumor of the temporal bone was diagnosed by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the temporal bone. This case shows that if the dizziness symptom is not improved after conservative management in patients who present with vestibular neuritis, an imaging evaluation could be necessary, taking into consideration the possibility of a tumor in the temporal bone.

Keyword

Dizziness; Malignant melanoma; Temporal bone

MeSH Terms

Caloric Tests
Dizziness*
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Melanoma*
Middle Aged
Nystagmus, Pathologic
Physical Examination
Rare Diseases
Temporal Bone*
Tympanic Membrane
Vestibular Neuronitis
Full Text Links
  • KJORL-HN
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr