Angiomatous type of jugular foramen meningioma with neck extension: differential diagnosis from paraganglioma and schwannoma.

BACKGROUND: Meningiomas involving the jugular foramen and parapharyngeal space are extremely rare. They most commonly occur intracranially and then extend to the extracranial region through the foramen of the skull base, such as jugular foramen. Clinically, these tumors mimic the more common glomus jugulare tumor. Preoperative diagnosis can be correct on the basis of the characteristic imaging findings.
METHODS: A 52-year-old woman was seen with a left neck mass and mixed-type hearing loss. She underwent physical examination, MRI, high-resolution CT, and angiography.
RESULTS: Physical examination revealed a retro-tympanic, pulsatile red mass in the left ear, and mild bulging of the left oropharyngeal wall. The patient was found to have the spreading, carpet-like, meningioma with extracranial extensions via jugular foramen to parapharyngeal space. Preoperative imaging strategy allowing accurate preoperative diagnosis is discussed.
CONCLUSIONS: Accurate distinction between meningioma and glomus tumor or schwannoma is possible in most cases, with attention to fine radiologic detail.