[Glomus jugulare tumors. Possibilities of radiotherapy]

From 1964 to 1981, twelve patients with glomus jugulare tumors involving bony lesions of base of skull were treated by high energy radiation. Ten patients presented cranial nerve pairs paralysis. Conventionally fractionated doses of 45 to 60 Gy were applied, and 11 of the 12 patients were alive and clinically stable after follow up for between 3 and 20 years. One patient died of an intercurrent infection after 16 years. Strict irradiation technique is essential to avoid principally neurologic complications. Favorable results after radiotherapy were obtained in extensive tympano-jugular forms.