Complex glomus jugulare tumor: management issues.

Glomus tumors are rare and locally aggressive, vascular paragangliomas of the skull base. Tumors may progress to cause lower cranial nerve palsies and involve the major vascular structure in the skull base, and thus pose very difficult surgical challenges. One such case is presented, the management problems in such "complex glomus jugulare" tumors are discussed, and the literature reviewed.