Glomus tumors, or paragangliomas, are slow-growing, benign tumors of the neuroendocrine tissues in the body. They are rare but most commonly occur in the head, neck, and adrenal gland. In very rare situations, they are malignant.
Glomus tumors occur in three places in the head and neck:
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Glomus tumors — also known as paragangliomas — of the head and neck are benign (noncancerous) tumors that form from glomus cells.
Glomus tumors are highly vascular and may exist alone or, in around 10% of cases, can occur with multiple glomus tumors in the same person. Rarely, they are associated with other tumors in the adrenal gland, thyroid, or parathyroid glands.
Because glomus tumors tend to be benign and grow slowly, mortality rates are very low. But glomus tumors can damage the tissue and nerves around them as they grow.
In rare cases, glomus tumors can be malignant. They may also produce hormones that can affect your blood pressure, heart rate, and can sometimes make anesthesia dangerous.
In the head and neck, glomus tumors can be in the:
The exact cause of a glomus tumor is unknown.
Glomus tumors are associated with a family of hereditary genetic mutations that can be passed on to your children. It may be important to be tested for these genetic conditions so you make appropriate family planning decisions.
But glomus tumors also may occur without any family history — meaning they can form from gene mutations that happen over time throughout your life.
In rare cases, glomus tumors may produce hormones that can cause:
Other symptoms of glomus tumors depend on where the tumors are in your body.
Symptoms are like those of glomus tympanicum and may also include:
To diagnose a glomus tumor, your doctor will:
Order imaging and other tests.
Your doctor may order the following tests to diagnose your glomus tumors:
Because of the association of these tumors with other tumors and because these tumors can produce hormones, it is important to have a full workup before proceeding with management of a glomus tumor.
At UPMC, the approach to managing glomus tumors is comprehensive and multidisciplinary. We aim to manage both the tumor itself and the symptoms it can produce.
The multidisciplinary team may include a:
Sometimes, if the tumor is small and not growing, observation may be recommended. If the tumor is growing or large, the team will recommend treatment. The options are microsurgery or stereotactic radiosurgery.
The aims of microsurgery are to reduce tumor growth, minimize symptoms, and preserve long-term function. The surgical approach may be:
A larger surgery may be needed when the tumor spreads inside the cranial cavity or into the neck.
Stereotactic radiosurgery is an excellent option for some tumors. UPMC offers both LINAC radiotherapy and Gamma Knife® radiosurgery. Stereotactic radiosurgery is painless and uses hundreds of highly focused radiation beams to target tumors and lesions in the brain, with no incisions.
At UPMC, the preferred surgical approach for glomus tumors that grow outside of the middle ear is the transmastoid approach (behind the ear). Your surgical team of experts will include a neurotologist and a neurosurgeon if the tumor spreads into the cranial cavity.
The approach can be tailored to remove part or all of the tumor, depending on nerve function and goals. An angiogram with embolization (blockage of tumor blood flow) often is performed before surgery to reduce bleeding during surgery. UPMC's approach is a surgical technique that minimizes risk to the facial nerve and other nerves that provide voice and swallowing.
When glomus tumors are based in the neck, a head and neck surgeon or neurosurgeon will access the tumor via a neck dissection. The goal will be to preserve the nerve function that assists with voice and swallowing.
Radiosurgery is a painless technique that requires no incision. Hundreds of highly focused radiation beams target tumors and lesions in the brain.
Radiosurgery aims to prevent further growth of the glomus tumor and may maintain current neurological and hearing function.
Radiosurgery may be the first treatment option in cases where the tumor is not causing mass effect. It may also be a treatment after surgeons remove part of a glomus tumor.
UPMC leads the nation in Gamma Knife techniques with experts using them to treat more than 18,000 people.
UPMC is a world leader in glomus tumor research.
Researchers are looking at:
By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2024-10-18.
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