Epidermal cysts of temporal fossa: an unusual complication of ear surgery.

Otologic procedures have been described as etiologic factors in the development of epidermal cysts in the middle ear as well as in the tympanic membrane. We recently treated two cases of large epidermal cysts of the temporal fossa with extension to the infratemporal space; both cases had histories of ear surgery on the same side as the cysts and therefore the cysts are presumed to have originated from implanted epidermal elements at the time of surgery.