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.