​Glomus Tumors (Glomus Tympanicum), (Glomus Jugulare)

Diagnosing Glomus Tumors

To diagnose a glomus tumor, your doctor will:

• Perform a physical exam.
• Ask you about your symptoms.
• Order imaging and other diagnostic tests.

Glomus tumor symptoms

Symptoms of glomus tumors depend on their location: middle ear, jugular bulb, deep neck, or carotid artery.

Glomus tympanicum (middle ear)

• Your ear may perceive the flow of blood as a pulsating sound or ringing.
• Bleeding from the ear.
• Hearing loss — the growing mass may interfere with sound transmission.

Glomus jugulare (jugular bulb)

Symptoms are similar to those of glomus tympanicum and may include:

• Ringing in the ear
• Hearing loss
• Ear pain
• Bleeding from the ear

Compression of nearby cranial nerves may result in:

• Facial weakness
• Difficulty swallowing
• Hoarseness
• Shoulder drooping

In rare cases, these tumors may produce the hormone norepinephrine, which may cause:

• Headaches
• Anxiety
• High blood pressure
• Increased heart rate

Glomus vagale (deep neck space)

• A mass in the parapharyngeal area along the course of the vagus nerve.
• Facial palsies.

Carotid body tumors (carotid artery)

• A painless mass in the neck that tends to cause no symptoms.
• Larger tumors may compress the trachea and esophagus, resulting in hoarseness and difficulty swallowing.

Tests for diagnosing glomus tumors

Diagnostic tests may include:

• Imaging studies — Glomus tumors of the head and neck are diagnosed primarily through MRI and CT scans. The specific locations of these tumors are usually sufficient for a diagnosis.
• Angiograms — Because of their vascular nature, your doctor may also order an angiogram to confirm the diagnosis of glomus tumors.

In the middle ear, most glomus tympanicum tumors are found during a physical exam and appear as a reddish-blue mass behind the eardrum.

Glomus Tumor Treatments and Surgical Options

At UPMC, our neurosurgical team may recommend a combination of surgical and non-surgical glomus tumor treatments.

Minimally invasive surgery

Glomus tumors of the skull base may be approached directly, particularly those with growth in the direction of the nasopharynx, using the Endoscopic Endonasal Approach (EEA).

This state-of-the-art, minimally invasive glomus tumor surgery allows surgeons to access the tumor through the natural corridor of the nose, without making an open incision. Surgeons then remove the glomus tumor through the nose and nasal cavities.

EEA offers the benefits of no incisions to heal, no disfigurement, and a faster recovery time.

If you need complementary treatments, such as radiation, those therapies can begin soon after EEA surgery.

Gamma Knife® radiosurgery for glomus tumors

Gamma Knife radiosurgery is a painless procedure that uses hundreds of highly focused radiation beams to target tumors and lesions within the brain, with no surgical incision.

Gamma Knife radiosurgery is used to prevent further growth of the glomus tumor and maintain current neurological and hearing function.

The Gamma Knife may be used as the first treatment option, particularly in cases where the tumor is not causing mass effect, or as an adjuvant treatment after partial removal of glomus tumors.

As the nation's leading provider of Gamma Knife procedures, UPMC has treated more than 12,000 patients with tumors, vascular malformations, pain, and other functional problems.