Lien Devuyst1, Luc Defreyne2, Marleen Praet3, Sven Geukens4, Ingeborg Dhooge5. 1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ghent University/Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185 (1P1), Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: lienneil@hotmail.com. 2. Department of Interventional Radiology, Ghent University/Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Luc.Defreyne@uzgent.be. 3. Department of Anatomic Pathology, Ghent University/Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Marleen.Praet@ugent.be. 4. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, OLV Hospital Aalst, Moorselbaan 164, Aalst, Belgium. Electronic address: Sven_geukens@yahoo.co.uk. 5. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ghent University/Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185 (1P1), Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: ingeborgh.dhooge@ugent.be.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness on function preservation and tumor control of the treatment of glomus tympanicum tumors with pre-operative embolization followed by total surgical resection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We describe a series of 6 patients with a glomus tympanicum tumor who were treated in our hospital using the same technique: the day before surgery selective tumor embolization due to denaturation with 96% ethanol. Following parameters were considered: tumor classification, tumor control, clinical and audiological outcome, effectiveness of embolization, percentage of tumor necrosis and treatment complications. RESULTS: There were no severe complications due to embolization or surgery. Tumor blush disappeared completely in 5 patients on DSA post embolization and histologic evaluation of the resected tissue showed a median of 69.2% of tumor necrosis. Pulsatile tinnitus disappeared in all patients and 3 patients had no symptoms at all. Hearing ameliorated in 4 patients, 1 patient without hearing loss pre- treatment still had normal hearing after treatment and 1 patient's hearing was worse after treatment. Average follow-up was 21.3months. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of glomus tympanicum tumors by pre-operative embolization with ethanol and surgical resection has not been described before. Our results show that it is a safe procedure with a good long term tumor control, good clinical and audiological outcome.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness on function preservation and tumor control of the treatment of glomus tympanicum tumors with pre-operative embolization followed by total surgical resection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We describe a series of 6 patients with a glomus tympanicum tumor who were treated in our hospital using the same technique: the day before surgery selective tumor embolization due to denaturation with 96% ethanol. Following parameters were considered: tumor classification, tumor control, clinical and audiological outcome, effectiveness of embolization, percentage of tumor necrosis and treatment complications. RESULTS: There were no severe complications due to embolization or surgery. Tumor blush disappeared completely in 5 patients on DSA post embolization and histologic evaluation of the resected tissue showed a median of 69.2% of tumor necrosis. Pulsatile tinnitus disappeared in all patients and 3 patients had no symptoms at all. Hearing ameliorated in 4 patients, 1 patient without hearing loss pre- treatment still had normal hearing after treatment and 1 patient's hearing was worse after treatment. Average follow-up was 21.3months. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of glomus tympanicum tumors by pre-operative embolization with ethanol and surgical resection has not been described before. Our results show that it is a safe procedure with a good long term tumor control, good clinical and audiological outcome.