OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to make a retrospective analysis in patients with glomus tumours of temporal bone origin. We present the results according to the surgical approach applied in each case. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This retrospective study presents the findings in 17 patients with diagnosis of glomus jugulare of the temporal bone, who were observed and treated in our department over a 5-year period (1999 to 2004). We performed a general otolaryngology exam, systemic evaluation and radiological exam. Surgical treatment was performed in 16 cases out of 17. In 1 case treatment with stereotaxic surgery was performed. RESULTS: The surgical approaches were: retroauricular transcanal approach, radical or modified mastoidectomy through facial recess, and infratemporal fossa approach. Pre-operative embolization was used in 11 of our cases. In all cases the diagnosis of glomus tumour was confirmed. The most frequent post-operative complications found were: transitory paralysis of the facial nerve, sensorineural hearing loss, imbalance, paralysis of the IXth and XIth cranial nerves, and salivary fistula. No recurrences were found after 8 years of follow-up. One case of persistence was found in the case treated with radiosurgery. CONCLUSIONS: In our series surgery was found as the elective therapy for patients with glomus tumour of the temporal bone with no recurrences after 8 years of follow-up. Pre-operative embolization diminishes surgery time and intraoperative bleeding. Stereotaxic therapy cannot provide tumour growth control. Complications are discussed and compared with the bibliography.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to make a retrospective analysis in patients with glomus tumours of temporal bone origin. We present the results according to the surgical approach applied in each case. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This retrospective study presents the findings in 17 patients with diagnosis of glomus jugulare of the temporal bone, who were observed and treated in our department over a 5-year period (1999 to 2004). We performed a general otolaryngology exam, systemic evaluation and radiological exam. Surgical treatment was performed in 16 cases out of 17. In 1 case treatment with stereotaxic surgery was performed. RESULTS: The surgical approaches were: retroauricular transcanal approach, radical or modified mastoidectomy through facial recess, and infratemporal fossa approach. Pre-operative embolization was used in 11 of our cases. In all cases the diagnosis of glomus tumour was confirmed. The most frequent post-operative complications found were: transitory paralysis of the facial nerve, sensorineural hearing loss, imbalance, paralysis of the IXth and XIth cranial nerves, and salivary fistula. No recurrences were found after 8 years of follow-up. One case of persistence was found in the case treated with radiosurgery. CONCLUSIONS: In our series surgery was found as the elective therapy for patients with glomus tumour of the temporal bone with no recurrences after 8 years of follow-up. Pre-operative embolization diminishes surgery time and intraoperative bleeding. Stereotaxic therapy cannot provide tumour growth control. Complications are discussed and compared with the bibliography.
Authors: Zachary D Guss; Sachin Batra; Charles J Limb; Gordon Li; Michael E Sughrue; Kristin Redmond; Daniele Rigamonti; Andrew T Parsa; Steven Chang; Lawrence Kleinberg; Michael Lim Journal: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys Date: 2011-06-22 Impact factor: 7.038