Glomus jugulare tumors

Disease Overview

A glomus jugulare tumor develops when cells in nerves near the temporal bone of the skull begin to rapidly increase in number, forming a mass.  This tumor gets its name from the nerves, called glomus bodies, and their location in a small opening in the temporal bone, known as the jugulare foramen.  Glomus jugulare tumors are included in a group of tumors called paragangliomas.[5808]  They are usually benign, meaning cells in the tumor are unlikely to spread to other parts of the body.  Symptoms of a glomus jugulare tumor include dizziness, difficulty swallowing, hearing issues, pain, or weakness in the muscles of the face.  Treatment includes surgery to remove the tumor, sometimes followed by radiation therapy.[5807]

Synonyms

• Glomus tumor
• Paraganglioma - glomus jugulare