Abstract

The results of different forms of treatment of 37 patients with previously untreated glomus jugulare tumors were compared retrospectively. According to the Fisch classification system, 6 patients presented with class B tumors, 19 class C and 12 patients with class D. Twenty-eight patients underwent surgery and 9 patients had primary radiation therapy (to 50 Gy). In 20 of the surgical cases (71%), radical tumor removal could be achieved and required no further treatment over a follow-up period of 8.6 years (range 2-15 years). Incomplete tumor resection with postoperative radiation therapy resulted in progressive tumor growth in three cases. One patient in this group experienced subarachnoid bleeding that had to be managed by salvage surgery. After primary radiation therapy, glomus jugulare tumors were still evident on magnetic resonance imaging scans, but showed no signs of disease progression. As a result of our experience, we found that a one-stage radical tumor resection performed in collaboration by otologic surgeons and neurosurgeons was the best treatment for patients with large glomus jugulare tumors.