Radiation therapy for glomus tumors of the temporal bone.
The treatment of glomic tumors has been controversial since its first description. It can be done with surgery, radiotherapy or just expectation.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this paper was to evaluate the effectiveness and complications of radiotherapy.


METHODS
clinical with transversal cohort.


METHODS
It was made a retrospective review in the charts of the patients with glomus jugulare tumors treated with radiotherapy. Disease control was determined by (1) no progression of symptoms or cranial nerve dysfunction or (2) no progression of the lesion in radiological follow-up. It was also evaluated the follow-up period and the sequelae of the treatment.


RESULTS
Twelve patients were included, 8 of then women. The follow-up period was from 3 to 35 years, with a media of 11,6 years. The main symptoms were: hearing loss, pulsate tinnitus, dizziness and vertigo. The signs were pulsate retrotympanic mass, facial palsy and cofosis. The tumors were staged using Fisch's classification. The radiotherapy was performed with linear accelerator with dose ranging from 4500-5500 in 4-6 weeks. In the follow-up period were possible to identify sequelaes like dermatitis, meatal stenosis, cofosis and facial palsy.


CONCLUSIONS
The signs and symptoms were the same found in the medical literature. The type and dosages of the radiotherapy were also the same of others reports. All patients had improvement of the symptoms and only one was not considered as having disease controlled. Complications were, in general, minor complications, with exception of the cofosis and facial palsy.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiotherapy is a viable alternative to treatment of these tumors because their good response and low level of complications. It should be considered specially in advanced tumors where a surgical procedure could bring a high level of morbidity.
Dall'Igna
Celso
C
UFRGS, ENT Services, Clinical Hospital, Porto Alegre.
Antunes
Marcelo B
MB
Dall'Igna
Daniela Pernigotti
DP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005925:Glomus Jugulare Tumor / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012888:Skull Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D013701:Temporal Bone; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome