Surgical management of glomus jugulare tumors: a proposal for approach selection based on tumor relationships with the facial nerve

2010 ◽  
Vol 112 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis A. B. Borba ◽  
João Cândido Araújo ◽  
Jean G. de Oliveira ◽  
Miguel Giudicissi Filho ◽  
Marlus S. Moro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Facial Nerve ◽  
Middle Ear ◽  
Postoperative Period ◽  
Jugular Foramen ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage ◽  
Tumor Extension ◽  
Glomus Jugulare Tumor ◽  
Glomus Jugulare ◽  
Radical Removal

Object The goal of this paper is to analyze the extension and relationships of glomus jugulare tumor with the temporal bone and the results of its surgical treatment aiming at preservation of the facial nerve. Based on the tumor extension and its relationships with the facial nerve, new criteria to be used in the selection of different surgical approaches are proposed. Methods Between December 1997 and December 2007, 34 patients (22 female and 12 male) with glomus jugulare tumors were treated. Their mean age was 48 years. The mean follow-up was 52.5 months. Clinical findings included hearing loss in 88%, swallowing disturbance in 50%, and facial nerve palsy in 41%. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a mass in the jugular foramen in all cases, a mass in the middle ear in 97%, a cervical mass in 85%, and an intradural mass in 41%. The tumor was supplied by the external carotid artery in all cases, the internal carotid artery in 44%, and the vertebral artery in 32%. Preoperative embolization was performed in 15 cases. The approach was tailored to each patient, and 4 types of approaches were designed. The infralabyrinthine retrofacial approach (Type A) was used in 32.5%; infralabyrinthine pre- and retrofacial approach without occlusion of the external acoustic meatus (Type B) in 20.5%; infralabyrinthine pre- and retrofacial approach with occlusion of the external acoustic meatus (Type C) in 41%; and the infralabyrinthine approach with transposition of the facial nerve and removal of the middle ear structures (Type D) in 6% of the patients. Results Radical removal was achieved in 91% of the cases and partial removal in 9%. Among 20 patients without preoperative facial nerve dysfunction, the nerve was kept in anatomical position in 19 (95%), and facial nerve function was normal during the immediate postoperative period in 17 (85%). Six patients (17.6%) had a new lower cranial nerve deficit, but recovery of swallowing function was adequate in all cases. Voice disturbance remained in all 6 cases. Cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in 6 patients (17.6%), with no need for reoperation in any of them. One patient died in the postoperative period due to pulmonary complications. The global recovery, based on the Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS), was 100% in 15% of the patients, 90% in 45%, 80% in 33%, and 70% in 6%. Conclusions Radical removal of glomus jugulare tumor can be achieved without anterior transposition of the facial nerve. The extension of dissection, however, should be tailored to each case based on tumor blood supply, preoperative symptoms, and tumor extension. The operative field provided by the retrofacial infralabyrinthine approach, or the pre- and retrofacial approaches, with or without closure of the external acoustic meatus, allows a wide exposure of the jugular foramen area. Global functional recovery based on the KPS is acceptable in 94% of the patients.

scholarly journals Surgical treatment of glomus jugulare tumors without rerouting of the facial nerve: an infralabyrinthine approach

2004 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis A. B. Borba ◽  
Samir Ale-Bark ◽  
Charles London
Keyword(s):  
Facial Nerve ◽  
Surgical Approach ◽  
Facial Palsy ◽  
Jugular Foramen ◽  
Nerve Function ◽  
Tumor Removal ◽  
Glomus Jugulare ◽  
Anterior Transposition ◽  
Radical Removal

Object Glomus jugulare tumors are benign lesions located in the jugular foramen that may or may not extend into the middle ear, petrous apex, and upper neck; these growths sometimes invade intradurally. The surgical management of these tumors is a challenge to neurosurgeons and skull base surgeons. Because of their abundant vascularity, deep location, complex anatomy, and difficult surgical approach, their treatment, has been a controversial issue for many years. Despite advancements in nonsurgical techniques, the only treatment with proven efficacy is radical surgical removal. The authors present a series of patients treated with radical removal, in which the feasibility of removing glomus jugulare tumors with low morbidity and a surgical approach limited to tumor removal are discussed. The extent of surgical exposure is tailored with emphasis placed on the routine anterior transposition of the facial nerve. Methods Between May 1997 and March 2004, 24 patients with glomus jugulare tumors were treated; 17 patients were women and seven were men. Their mean age at the time of diagnosis was 50 years (range 18–71 years). The most common symptom was hearing loss in 77%, followed by dysphagia and dysphonia in 55% of patients. In seven patients the clinical presentation was a facial palsy. Radical tumor removal was achieved in 23 patients. An anterior facial nerve transposition was not needed in any case. No surgery-related death was recorded in this series, although one patient died of a pulmonary embolism 70 days after the procedure. A one-stage procedure was performed in 23 patients and a two-stage procedure was used in the other patient. Cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in two patients. The lower cranial nerve function was worse in eight patients; however, only one had a new deficit. The facial nerve was preserved in all patients except one, in whom a large intradural tumor caused a temporary facial palsy. In the patients with pre-operative facial palsy, the tumor only compressed the nerve in three and it invaded the nerve in four. The nerve was decompressed in the cases with no invasion and a graft was placed in the others. The greater auricular nerve was used as a graft in three and the sural nerve was used in one. On follow-up review, the facial nerve function was House–Brackmann Grade 3 in three patients and Grade 2 in three. After 6 months of follow up with no improvement, one patient was referred for a facial muscle transfer. Conclusions The surgical technique must be tailored to each case. The authors believe that the standard surgical approach to jugular foramen tumors with anterior transposition of the facial nerve should be avoided, and that the extent of surgical exposure must be tailored to each case based on the extent of the tumor and the clinical symptoms. Lower morbidity rates and radical removal can be achieved with a good surgical plan.

scholarly journals Extradural Transjugular Transsigmoid Approach with High Cervical Exposure for Glomus Jugulare Tumor

2019 ◽  
Vol 80 (S 04) ◽  
pp. S382-S384
Author(s):  
Ken Matsushima ◽  
Michihiro Kohno ◽  
Takao Hashimoto ◽  
Hitoshi Izawa ◽  
Yujiro Tanaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Facial Nerve ◽  
Temporal Bone ◽  
Hemifacial Spasm ◽  
Cervical Region ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage ◽  
Pulsatile Tinnitus ◽  
Glomus Jugulare Tumor ◽  
Glomus Jugulare ◽  
Brainstem Response ◽  
High Cervical

AbstractSurgical removal of glomus jugulare tumors is challenging owing to the complex anatomy of the temporal bone and craniocervical region, aggressive tumor invasion into the nearby structures, and their hypervascularity. However, recent advances in skull base techniques, intraoperative neuromonitoring, and radiological interventions have enabled their relatively safe resection, while giving priority to functional preservation. This video demonstrates a case of a glomus jugulare tumor treated by the extradural transjugular transsigmoid approach with high-cervical exposure and tympamoplasty, after preoperative embolization. A 47-year-old woman presented with progressive hearing disturbance, pulsatile tinnitus, and hemifacial spasm. Neuroimaging displayed a hypervascular tumor occupying the temporal bone, extending to the cervical region through the jugular foramen, and to the external auditory canal. Preoperative feeder occlusion was successfully performed without any additional symptoms, while carefully evaluating the provocative test. Near-total resection of the tumor was achieved through the transjugular transsigmoid approach with high-cervical exposure under detailed neuromonitoring, including continuous facial nerve monitoring and auditory brainstem response. In this patient, in whom the tumor did not invade intradurally and the sigmoid sinus was already occluded preoperatively, the sinus was managed only by coagulation, to avoid unnecessary dural opening and the risk of cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Anterior facial nerve rerouting was not required since the tumor removal was accomplished through the corridor above and below the fallopian bridge. The patient had no new neurological deficits, and her pulsatile tinnitus and hemifacial spasm disappeared after the surgery. Her hearing disturbance improved postoperatively.The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/gqf3dxHlv_0.

Microsurgical Resection of Glomus Jugulare Tumors With Facial Nerve Reconstruction: 3-Dimensional Operative Video

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. E1-E1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duarte N C Cândido ◽  
Jean Gonçalves de Oliveira ◽  
Luis A B Borba
Keyword(s):  
Facial Nerve ◽  
Infratemporal Fossa ◽  
Tumor Resection ◽  
Cranial Nerves ◽  
Jugular Foramen ◽  
Jugular Bulb ◽  
Senior Author ◽  
Nerve Reconstruction ◽  
Glomus Jugulare ◽  
Carotid Canal

Abstract Paragangliomas are tumors originating from the paraganglionic system (autonomic nervous system), mostly found at the region around the jugular bulb, for which reason they are also termed glomus jugulare tumors (GJT). Although these lesions appear to be histologically benign, clinically they present with great morbidity, especially due to invasion of nearby structures such as the lower cranial nerves. These are challenging tumors, as they need complex approaches and great knowledge of the skull base. We present the case of a 31-year-old woman, operated by the senior author, with a 1-year history of tinnitus, vertigo, and progressive hearing loss, that evolved with facial nerve palsy (House-Brackmann IV) 2 months before surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scans demonstrated a typical lesion with intense flow voids at the jugular foramen region with invasion of the petrous and tympanic bone, carotid canal, and middle ear, and extending to the infratemporal fossa (type C2 of Fisch's classification for GJT). During the procedure the mastoid part of the facial nerve was identified involved by tumor and needed to be resected. We also describe the technique for nerve reconstruction, using an interposition graft from the great auricular nerve, harvested at the beginning of the surgery. We achieved total tumor resection with a remarkable postoperative course. The patient also presented with facial function after 6 months. The patient consented with publication of her images.

Pathology of Jugular Foramen Neurofibroma

1983 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard R. Gacek
Keyword(s):  
Conservative Treatment ◽  
Temporal Bone ◽  
Cranial Nerves ◽  
Internal Auditory Canal ◽  
Jugular Foramen ◽  
Glomus Jugulare Tumor ◽  
Tissue Diagnosis ◽  
Glomus Jugulare ◽  
Useful Life

Tumors of jugular foramen may closely resemble glomus jugulare tumors clinically and radiographically. A tissue diagnosis is necessary to make a differentiation of these tumors. This conclusion is supported by the findings in a temporal bone from a patient who was diagnosed clinically as having a glomus jugulare tumor 57 years before her death at the age of 84 years. Compression of the 7th and 8th cranial nerves in the internal auditory canal and the 10th and 11th cranial nerves at the jugular foramen represents the mechanism of neural signs produced by a neurofibroma arising in the jugulare foramen. This case further demonstrates that conservative treatment of benign extradural tumors may be compatible with a long and useful life.

scholarly journals Management of the Facial Nerve in Lateral Skull Base Surgery Analytic Retrospective study

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. CMENT.S6570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed A. El Shazly ◽  
Mahmoud A.M. Mokbel ◽  
Amr A. Elbadry ◽  
Hatem S. Badran
Keyword(s):  
Facial Nerve ◽  
Facial Paralysis ◽  
Tumor Resection ◽  
Cranial Nerves ◽  
Jugular Foramen ◽  
External Carotid ◽  
Vascular Tumors ◽  
Complete Cure ◽  
Glomus Jugulare ◽  
Lateral Skull Base

Background Surgical approaches to the jugular foramen are often complex and lengthy procedures associated with significant morbidity based on the anatomic and tumor characteristics. In addition to the risk of intra-operative hemorrhage from vascular tumors, lower cranial nerves deficits are frequently increased after intra-operative manipulation. Accordingly, modifications in the surgical techniques have been developed to minimize these risks. Preoperative embolization and intra-operative ligation of the external carotid artery have decreased the intraoperative blood loss. Accurate identification and exposure of the cranial nerves extracranially allows for their preservation during tumor resection. The modification of facial nerve mobilization provides widened infratemporal exposure with less postoperative facial weakness. The ideal approach should enable complete, one stage tumor resection with excellent infratemporal and posterior fossa exposure and would not aggravate or cause neurologic deficit. The aim of this study is to present our experience in handling jugular foramen lesions (mainly glomus jugulare) without the need for anterior facial nerve transposition. Methods In this series we present our experience in Kasr ElEini University hospital (Cairo–-Egypt) in handling 36 patients with jugular foramen lesions over a period of 20 years where the previously mentioned preoperative and operative rules were followed. The clinical status, operative technique and postoperative care and outcome are detailed and analyzed in relation to the outcome. Results Complete cure without complications was achieved in four cases of congenital cholesteatoma and four cases with class B glomus. In advanced cases of glomus jugulare (28 patients) (C and D stages) complete cure was achieved in 21 of them (75%). The operative complications were also related to this group of 28 patients, in the form of facial paralysis in 20 of them (55.6%) and symptomatic vagal paralysis in 18 of them (50%). Conclusions Total anterior rerouting of the facial nerve carries a high risk of facial paralysis. So it should be reserved for cases where the lesion extends beyond the vertical ICA. Otherwise, for less extensive lesions and less aggressive pathologies, less aggressive approaches could be adopted with less hazards.

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