Glomus Jugulare

These are very rare, slow growing and benign tumors. They present problems if they widely invade the temporal bone. It is common for them to be discovered in the middle ear.

Because glomus jugulare are located in the base of the skull in the jugular foramen, patients can present with hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, hearing loss or a ringing in the ear. Depending on the size of the tumor, a patient may also experience dizziness or blackouts. In addition to a good history and physical examination, an MRI with and without contrast is used for diagnosis. A cerebral angiography may be used as a diagnostic tool to understand the blood supply of the tumor since they are highly vascular in nature.

The most effective treatment for this tumor is under debate. At Johns Hopkins, the physician treating a patient with a glomus jugulare presents their case to a group of colleagues at a skull base conference. This conference allows neurosurgeons, ENT surgeons and radiation oncologists to work together to create a final recommendation for the patient.