Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for Glomus Jugulare Tumors

Lee, Dong Hwan; Kim, Moo Seong; Joo, Sang Wook; No, Seung Jin; Paeng, Seung Hwa; Jeong, Yeong Gyun; Pyo, Se Young; Lee, Sun Il; Jung, Yong Tae

Original article

Journal of the Korean Society of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery 2008;4(1):32-35.
Published online June 30, 2008.

Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for Glomus Jugulare Tumors

Dong Hwan Lee, Moo Seong Kim, Sang Wook Joo, Seung Jin No, Seung Hwa Paeng, Yeong Gyun Jeong, Se Young Pyo, Sun Il Lee, Yong Tae Jung

Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Inje University, Busan Paik Hospital, Busan, Korea

Abstract

Objective
Glomus jugulare tumors are rare tumors that commonly involve, the middle ear, temporal bone, and lower cranial nerves. Resection, embolization, and radiation therapy have been the mainstays of treatment. Despite these therapies, tumor control can be difficult to achieve particularly without undo risk of patient morbidity and mortality. We assess the effect of the Gamma knife radiosurgery documenting the clinical and radiological outcome. Method: A retrospective review identified 7 patients with glomus jugulare tumors who underwent Gamma knife radiosurgery. Besides analysis of clinical outcome, a radiological volume analysis was also performed after treatment. Results: There were 4 women and 3 men, (average age 66.5 years) with a mean follow-up period of 36.5 months. The mean radiosurgical dose to the tumor margin was 13.5Gy (range 12-15Gy). 4 patients (57%) improved clinically, and 3 (43%) were unchanged. Analysis of tumor volume at the time of the last magnetic resonance imaging scan recorded a decrease in 5 patients, and no change in 2 patients.
Conclusion
Gamma knife surgery would seem to afford effective local control and preserves neurological function in patients with glomus jugulare tumors. Longer follow-up periods are required to assess long-term effects.

Key Words: Glomus jugulare tumor, Gamma knife radiosurgery.