Sinonasal inverted papilloma involving the temporal bone via the eustachian tube: case report.

OBJECTIVE

This study reports a case of a sinonasal inverted papilloma with spread to the temporal bone via the eustachian tube and subsequent transformation to squamous cell carcinoma.

METHOD

An 81-year-old woman presented with sinonasal inverted papilloma which subsequently spread to the ear. A literature review of inverted papilloma was carried out based on a Pubmed search of studies published between 1987 and 2011, using the key words 'sinonasal inverted papilloma', 'temporal bone inverted papilloma' and 'squamous cell carcinoma'.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Sinonasal and temporal bone inverted papillomas may sometimes be linked through direct spread via the eustachian tube. Inverted papillomas have the potential for malignant transformation; careful monitoring of both the nose and ear is therefore required for inverted papillomas found in the nasopharynx.