[Malignant melanoma of the temporal bone].

The present article describes a case of malignant melanoma with the rare localisation in the right temporal bone. The 79-year old female patient presented a polypous tumour with obturation of the outer ear canal and sanguineous otorrhoea (Fig. 1). The inner ear function was impaired showing a combined defective hearing and complete peripheral palsy of the facial nerve as well as an abducens nerve palsy (Fig. 1) with diplopia. CT and MR imaging showed a tumour destroying the temporal bone up to the apex of the pyramid and the clivus reaching the middle cranial fossa (Fig. 2-3). After palliative radiotherapy with 40 Gy the general condition and clinical symptoms improved. After a period of 8 months with no signs of further tumour progression the patient was admitted again in reduced general condition showing pulmonary and pleural metastases. The patient died 14 days later.