Chemodectomas (
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- Rarely are malignant (2-6% of cases).
- Often multicentric and associated with other malignancies.
- Found in the carotid body, vagus ganglion, aortic arch, bulb of the jugular vein, inside the middle ear, orbit, nose, nasopharynx or larynx.
Tumors of the carotid body grow slowly.
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- Characteristic
- Bilateral lesions in 3% of patients
- Large tumors can cause dysphagia, airway obstruction, and cranial nerve palsies
- The formations can pulsate and cause vascular murmurs.
- The diagnosis is confirmed by angiography of the carotid arteries. The images show enhanced vascularization in the area of the tumor located in the bifurcation of the carotid arteries.
- Treatment is removal of the tumor. For inoperable tumors, carotid bypass surgery may be necessary.
Tumors of the jugular and tympanic glomus
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- Characteristic
- Jugular glomus tumors arise from the bulb of the jugular vein. They can affect the middle ear, labyrinth and skull, cranial nerves, especially VII, IX, X, XI and XII
- Tympanic glomus tumors appear in the inner ear within the tympanic nerve. Most patients have pulsating tinnitus, hearing loss and dizziness.
- The examination includes angiography of all four carotid arteries, retrograde opacification of the jugular vein, and CT. Biopsies should be avoided.
- Treatment – surgical removal of the tumor
- The operation is easily performed for small tumors of the tympanic glomus
- Glomus tumors are sensitive to radiation, but it is impossible to cure them with radiation therapy.
- New methods of operations on the base of the skull make it possible to remove all lesions in this area. Radiation therapy is used in the treatment of recurrence and residual tumor.
See also Paraganglioma familial (p1)
ICD
- C71 Malignant neoplasm of the brain
- D33 Benign neoplasm of brain and other parts of central nervous system