eMedicine Specialties > Neurosurgery > Neoplasm

Glomus Tumors: Multimedia

Author: Ryszard M Pluta, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Neurosurgical Department Medical Research Center, Polish Academy of Sciences at Warsaw, Poland; Senior Researcher, Surgical Neurology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH
Coauthor(s): Brian A Iuliano, MD, Attending Neurosurgeon, Central Maryland Neurosurgical Associates
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Apr 20, 2009

Multimedia

This is an image of a 20-year-old woman who prese...
(Enlarge Image)
Media file 1: This is an image of a 20-year-old woman who presented in June 1970 with episodic hypertension, headaches, and palpitations. Urine catecholamine levels were elevated, and a pheochromocytoma was suspected. She underwent a negative exploratory laparotomy. She subsequently developed palsies of the IX, X, XI, and XII cranial nerves on the right side. A norepinephrine-secreting glomus jugulare tumor with intracranial and cervical extension was identified on radiologic and arteriographic imaging. Image 1 shows a lateral view of the initial carotid arteriogram. Arrows delineate the tumor blush. The arrowhead demonstrates a branch of the middle meningeal artery providing blood supply to the tumor. This branch was embolized.
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This is an image of a 20-year-old woman who prese...

This is an image of a 20-year-old woman who presented in June 1970 with episodic hypertension, headaches, and palpitations. Urine catecholamine levels were elevated, and a pheochromocytoma was suspected. She underwent a negative exploratory laparotomy. She subsequently developed palsies of the IX, X, XI, and XII cranial nerves on the right side. A norepinephrine-secreting glomus jugulare tumor with intracranial and cervical extension was identified on radiologic and arteriographic imaging. Image 1 shows a lateral view of the initial carotid arteriogram. Arrows delineate the tumor blush. The arrowhead demonstrates a branch of the middle meningeal artery providing blood supply to the tumor. This branch was embolized.

A significant decrease of tumor vascular blush (a...
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Media file 2: A significant decrease of tumor vascular blush (arrows) following embolization (see Image 1).
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A significant decrease of tumor vascular blush (a...

A significant decrease of tumor vascular blush (arrows) following embolization (see Image 1).

CT imaging demonstrates the extent of bony destru...
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Media file 3: CT imaging demonstrates the extent of bony destruction (white and black arrows) by the tumor. The normal jugular foramen on the left (arrow head) is shown for comparison. The patient subsequently underwent surgical resection of the extracranial portion of this extensive tumor. The remaining intracranial portion was treated with radiation therapy (54 Gy). Follow-up evaluations, including imaging and laboratory investigations, demonstrated long-term control of both tumor growth and catecholamine production (see Image 1).
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CT imaging demonstrates the extent of bony destru...

CT imaging demonstrates the extent of bony destruction (white and black arrows) by the tumor. The normal jugular foramen on the left (arrow head) is shown for comparison. The patient subsequently underwent surgical resection of the extracranial portion of this extensive tumor. The remaining intracranial portion was treated with radiation therapy (54 Gy). Follow-up evaluations, including imaging and laboratory investigations, demonstrated long-term control of both tumor growth and catecholamine production (see Image 1).

Lateral carotid arteriogram obtained 22 years aft...
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Media file 4: Lateral carotid arteriogram obtained 22 years after radiation therapy (see Image 1).
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Lateral carotid arteriogram obtained 22 years aft...

Lateral carotid arteriogram obtained 22 years after radiation therapy (see Image 1).

Corresponding MRI of the tumor indicating no evid...
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Media file 5: Corresponding MRI of the tumor indicating no evidence of tumor growth over time (see Image 1).
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Corresponding MRI of the tumor indicating no evid...

Corresponding MRI of the tumor indicating no evidence of tumor growth over time (see Image 1).

More on Glomus Tumors

Overview: Glomus Tumors
Treatment: Glomus Tumors
Follow-up: Glomus Tumors
Multimedia: Glomus Tumors
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

glomus tumors, glomus jugulare tumor, paraganglioma, chemodectoma, nonchromaffin paraganglia, temporal bone tumor, ganglia tympanica, glandula tympanica, vascular tumors of the middle ear, conductive hearing loss, pulsatile tinnitus, ear fullness, otorrhea, hemorrhage, bruit, middle ear mass, ringing in the ears, deafness

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Ryszard M Pluta, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Neurosurgical Department Medical Research Center, Polish Academy of Sciences at Warsaw, Poland; Senior Researcher, Surgical Neurology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH
Ryszard M Pluta, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: Congress of Neurological Surgeons and Polish Society of Neurosurgeons
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Brian A Iuliano, MD, Attending Neurosurgeon, Central Maryland Neurosurgical Associates
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Duc Hoang Duong, MD, Professor, Chief Physician, Departments of Neurological Surgery and Neuroscience, Epilepsy Center, Charles R Drew University
Duc Hoang Duong, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Neurological Association, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and North American Skull Base Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Allen R Wyler, MD, Former Medical Director, Northstar Neuroscience, Inc
Allen R Wyler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurological and Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, and Society of Neurological Surgeons
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Paolo Zamboni, MD, Professor of Surgery, Chief of Day Surgery Unit, Chair of Vascular Diseases Center, University of Ferrara, Italy
Paolo Zamboni, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Venous Forum and New York Academy of Sciences
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Allen R Wyler, MD, Former Medical Director, Northstar Neuroscience, Inc
Allen R Wyler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurological and Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, and Society of Neurological Surgeons
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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