A case of osteochondroma arising at the articular tubercle of the temporal bone

Abstract

Osteochondroma is a benign bone tumor covered by a cartilage cap, arising at the external surface of the bone. In the oral and maxillofacial regions, this lesion is known to develop in the mandibular condyle; however, involvement of the temporal bone is rare. We present a case of osteochondroma arising at the articular tubercle of the temporal bone. A 32-year-old man visited our department for evaluation of a mass in the right temporal bone. Radiographic examination revealed a pedunculated exophytic mass continuous with the articular tubercle of the right temporal bone, and the patient was clinically diagnosed with a temporal bone tumor. We performed surgical resection through a preauricular incision under general anesthesia. A histopathological evaluation revealed formation of bone covered by a cartilage cap, which confirmed the diagnosis of osteochondroma. The residual lesion showed no growth two years postoperatively.