Angiomatous type of jugular foramen meningioma with neck extension: differential diagnosis from paraganglioma and schwannoma.
BACKGROUND
Meningiomas involving the jugular foramen and parapharyngeal space are extremely rare. They most commonly occur intracranially and then extend to the extracranial region through the foramen of the skull base, such as jugular foramen. Clinically, these tumors mimic the more common glomus jugulare tumor. Preoperative diagnosis can be correct on the basis of the characteristic imaging findings.


METHODS
A 52-year-old woman was seen with a left neck mass and mixed-type hearing loss. She underwent physical examination, MRI, high-resolution CT, and angiography.


RESULTS
Physical examination revealed a retro-tympanic, pulsatile red mass in the left ear, and mild bulging of the left oropharyngeal wall. The patient was found to have the spreading, carpet-like, meningioma with extracranial extensions via jugular foramen to parapharyngeal space. Preoperative imaging strategy allowing accurate preoperative diagnosis is discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
Accurate distinction between meningioma and glomus tumor or schwannoma is possible in most cases, with attention to fine radiologic detail.
Chen
Zeng-Chang
ZC
Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Wang
Cheng-Ping
CP
Hsiao
Jong-Kai
JK
Ko
Jenq-Yuh
JY
Tseng
Ham-Min
HM
Yao
Yu-Tung
YT
D000792:Angiography; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005924:Glomus Jugulare / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005925:Glomus Jugulare Tumor / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008579:Meningioma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010235:Paraganglioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome