Occult tumors of the infratemporal fossa: report of seven cases appearing as preauricular facial pain.

Seven patients had occult malignant neoplasms either originating in or extending to the infratemporal fossa. Common symptoms were facial pain centered over the temporomandibular joint and facial numbness. These symptoms were sometimes associated with middle ear effusion and trismus. Multiple biopsies are often necessary to establish the diagnosis. The average delay in diagnosis from first symptom was 14 months. Infratemporal fossa neoplasia belongs in the differential diagnosis of facial pain.