Glomus jugulare tumor

Definition

A glomus jugulare tumor is a small, ball-like swelling in the area of the middle ear.

Alternative Names

Causes

A glomus jugulare tumor grows in the bones of the skull where nerves are located. Specifically, the tumor occurs in part of the jugular vein (a large vein in the neck) or along a certain nerve on the side of the skull (temporal bone).

Both of these areas contain glomus bodies, which are nerve fibers that normally respond to change in body temperature or blood pressure. A person with a glomus jugulare tumor may have a feeling of a loud pulsing in the ear.

These tumors usually occur later in life, around age 60 or 70. The cause of a glomus jugulare tumor is unknown. There are no known risk factors.

Symptoms

Symptoms may include:

• Weakness or loss of movement in the face (cranial nerve palsy)
• Hoarseness
• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• Hearing problems
• Pain

Exams and Tests

Glomus jugulare tumors are diagnosed by physical examination and various scans including:

• CT scan
• MRI scan
• Cerebral angiography (injection of dye so that the blood vessels of the neck and brain can be seen with x-rays)

Treatment

Glomus jugulare tumors are rarely cancerous and do not tend to spread to other parts of the body. However, treatment may be needed to relieve symptoms. The main treatment is surgery. Surgery is complex and usually done by both a neurosurgeon and a head and neck surgeon.

In some cases, a procedure called embolization is performed before surgery to shrink the tumor.

After surgery, radiation therapy may be used to treat any part of the tumor that could not be removed completely.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Patients who have surgery or radiation tend to do well. More than 90% of those with glomus jugulare tumors are cured.

Possible Complications

The most common complications are due to nerve damage, which may be caused by the tumor itself or damage during surgery. Nerve damage can lead to facial paralysis, hearing loss, and difficulty swallowing.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your health care provider if you notice a lump in your neck, if you are having difficulty with hearing or swallowing, or if you notice any problems with the muscles in your face.

Goetz, CG. Textbook of Clinical Neurology. 2nd ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2003: 1038.

Cummings CW, Flint PW, Haughey BH, et al. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 4th ed. St Louis, Mo; Mosby; 2005:3721-3724.