Benign osteoblastoma of the temporal bone

Benign osteoblastoma is an uncommon tumor in the skull and particularly rare in the temporal bone. This article presents the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic findings of the fifth case known to involve the temporal bone, and only the second case limited to the temporal bone itself. Subtotal removal was performed following embolization of the tumor. The patient currently has no evidence of disease eighteen months following therapy. Benign osteoblastoma is rarely synchronously or metachronously associated with its malignant counterpart, osteosarcoma. Treatment should be conservative. Subtotal curettage is acceptable and often results in long-term resolution. Radiotherapy is not recommended unless the removal is incomplete and the consequences of local recurrence are serious, as in vertebral lesions. This lesion may be highly vascular, and preoperative embolization should be considered to minimize blood loss at surgery.