Paraganglioma (patient information)

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Jinhui Wu, MD; Varun Kumar, M.B.B.S.

Keywords and synonyms: glomus jugulare tumor, glomus tumor

Overview

Paraganglioma also known as glomus jugulare tumor is a tumor of a part of the temporal bone in the skull. This tumor can affect the ear, upper neck, base of the skull, and the surrounding blood vessels and nerves.

What are the symptoms of paraganglioma?

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

What causes (the paraganglioma?

The cause of a paraganglioma is unknown.

Who is at the highest risk?

Usually, there are no known risk factors. Paraganglioma have been associated with changes (mutations) in a gene responsible for the enzyme succinate dehydrogenase (SDHD).

When to seek urgent medical care?

Call your health care provider if you:

• Are having difficulty with hearing or swallowing
• Develop pulsations in your ear
• Notice a lump in your neck
• Notice any problems with the muscles in your face

Diagnosis

Paraganglioma are diagnosed by physical examination and various scans, including:

• Cerebral angiography
• CT scan
• MRI scan

Treatment options

Paraganglioma 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 is usually done by both a neurosurgeon and a head and neck surgeon (neurotologist).

In some cases, a procedure called embolization is performed before surgery to prevent the tumor from bleeding too much during surgery.

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

Some glomus tumors can be treated with stereotactic radiosurgery.

Where to find medical care for paraganglioma?

Directions to Hospitals Treating paraganglioma

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)

Patients who have surgery or radiation tend to do well. More than 90% of those with paraganglioma 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:

• Change in voice
• Difficulty swallowing
• Hearing loss
• Paralysis of the face

Sources

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001634.htm