Jugulotympanic paragangliomas

Eleven patients with glomus jugulotympanicum tumours were seen in our department between January 1983 and December 1993. Nine patients received a full course of radiotherapy with doses ranging from 35 to 54 Gy. Four patients were available for assessment after 48 months. All were alive and asymptomatic at the time of writing. In 4 other patients, pain had improved although cranial nerve function had not at the last follow-up (1-9 months). One patient died 1 month after treatment. Radiotherapy can provide long-term local control and survival in the treatment of glomus jugulotympanicum tumours. The details of clinical presentation, follow-up and the methods of investigation are presented together with a review of the literature.