Intracranial glomus jugulare tumors: volume reduction with Gamma Knife surgery

Glomus jugulare tumors (GJTs) are slow-growing benign tumors arising from paraganglion cells of the superior vagal ganglion. Involvement of cranial nerves and extensive erosion of the jugular foramen and petrous bone are typically seen in patients with GJTs. Advances in microsurgical techniques have improved patient outcomes, but tumors involving the petrous bone remain difficult to treat effectively. The aim of our study was to further evaluate the role of Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) in the management of intracranial GJTs.

Twelve consecutive patients (mean age 51.7 years) with intracranial GJTs were included in this study. The treatment strategy was either multimodal, with microsurgical tumor volume reduction followed by GKS in patients suffering from brainstem compression, or GKS as the only treatment. Follow-up examinations included thorough neurological examinations and neuroradiological quantitative volumetric tumor analysis. Five patients (41.6%) underwent microsurgery before GKS. Tumor volumes ranging from 1.6 to 24.8 cm3 were treated using prescription doses of 14 to 20 Gy (nine-28 isocenters). The achieved overall tumor control rate after GKS was 100% (33 months mean follow up) with only mild side effects observed. A tumor volume reduction (mean 41.1%; 3.2 cm3) was achieved in all patients.

Gamma Knife surgery is a safe and effective treatment for intracranial GJTs. The tumor volume reductions achieved are comparable to those achieved using microsurgery but with a much lower rate of side effects. More studies with longer follow-up times are necessary to confirm these very promising results.