Glomus Jugulare Tumor

A glomus jugulare tumor is a tumor within the skull cavity. The area of the skull affected by this type of tumor is called the jugular foramen. The jugular foramen is on the temporal bone. The temporal bones are on the sides of your skull, or your temples.

These tumors are nearly always benign, or noncancerous, but their presence can cause hearing loss, problems with swallowing, and facial paralysis. Your doctor can use imaging tests and a biopsy to confirm the presence of a glomus jugulare tumor.

Treatment involves surgical removal. After surgery, you may need radiation therapy to remove the tumor fully. Although the tumor isn’t likely to be cancerous, it’s important to remove it because of the physical problems it can cause.

Glomus jugulare tumors, also known as glomus tumors, are a group of tumors that develop in glomus cells and tissues. Glomus cells are specialized cells that are found in some blood vessels and along nerves. The cells act to detect changes in the bloodstream, such as the presence of a certain chemical or a change in temperature. They can also respond to changes by releasing hormones.

Glomus tumors can form anywhere there are glomus cells. The underside region of the temporal bone in the skull contains many nerve bundles with glomus cells. Tumors that grow in this area are called glomus jugulare tumors because they form at the top of the jugular vein. This is the vein that takes blood from the brain back to the heart.

Glomus tumors, although not often cancerous, can grow extensively and may spread throughout the inside of nerves, along veins and arteries, and inside the ear and the Eustachian tube, which is the connection between the ear and the nose.

Because this type of tumor originates in the skull, just below the middle ear, symptoms related to the ear are common. These can include:

  • partial or complete hearing loss
  • a ringing or pulsing sound, which is called tinnitus
  • ear pain
  • dizziness

If the tumor is large enough and grows towards the face or neck, it can cause other symptoms. These may include:

  • weakness in facial muscles
  • facial paralysis
  • difficulty swallowing
  • hoarseness
  • drooping shoulders
  • tongue weakness

In a small percentage of glomus jugulare tumors, the mass may produce hormones and cause additional symptoms:

  • headaches
  • tremors
  • flushing
  • anxiety
  • high blood pressure
  • a rapid heart rate

The causes of glomus jugulare tumor formation aren’t entirely understood, but genetic factors are suspected. Doctors believe that acquired mutations cause the tumors, rather than hereditary genes. This means that mutations causing the tumors are acquired during a person’s lifetime and aren’t passed on from one generation to the next.

Glomus jugulare tumors form more often in women than in men, and in older adults. They can, however, form in anyone at any age.

A physical examination is the first step towards diagnosing a glomus jugulare tumor. The symptoms, as well as an examination of the ear and throat area, can indicate that a tumor may be present. There may be a lump on the neck, and the tumor may even be visible inside the ear.

To confirm the presence of a glomus jugulare tumor, your doctor needs to perform an imaging test, such as a CT scan or an MRI. Either test can give your doctor a detailed image of the area in question and confirm or deny the presence of a tumor.

The only real treatment for a glomus jugulare tumor is surgery. Even if a tumor is small and not causing severe symptoms, it may need to be removed. If it isn’t removed, the tumor will continue to grow slowly and cause more problems as it gets bigger. There are a few different options for surgery.

Complete Surgical Removal

A glomus jugulare tumor may be completely removed using traditional neurosurgical techniques. The process is difficult because there are so many nerves in the area, but if the tumor can be taken out without damaging any nerves, no other treatment is needed.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Stereotactic radiosurgery isn’t technically surgery. It involves the use of X-rays aimed at the tumor to destroy the abnormal tissue. Unlike traditional radiation therapy, this technique is more targeted and less likely to harm normal tissue.

Surgery Followed by Radiation Therapy

In some cases, traditional surgery to remove most of the tumor is combined with follow-up radiation. The radiation targets the remains of the tumor that the surgeon couldn’t physically remove.

The sooner the tumor is removed, the better your chances are for a full recovery. If you have a smaller, less extensive tumor, it’s easier to remove and there’s less likelihood of incidental damage to nearby critical structures. If the tumor has invaded blood vessels and nerves, it will be more difficult to remove.

In spite of the complex nature of surgery to remove this type of tumor, most people are cured following one or more procedures. In some cases, the tumor may return, which means that more surgery is required.