Jugular foramen tumors: clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the diagnosis, management, and treatment outcome of jugular foramen (JF) tumors.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review.


METHODS
Charts of the 83 patients diagnosed with JF tumors between January 1997 and May 2008 were reviewed. Presenting symptoms, otologic and neurotologic examination, audiologic thresholds, treatment procedure, surgical technique, tumor size and classification, and postoperative complications were recorded. Facial nerve function was graded using the House-Brackmann scale. Extent of tumor removal was determined at time of surgery, followed by routine radiographic follow-up.


RESULTS
The mean age of patients with JF tumors was 48.5 years (standard deviation, 16.3 yr), and women (79.5%) outnumbered men (20.5%). Most had glomus jugulare (GJ) tumors (n = 67, 80.7%); 9 patients had lower cranial nerve schwannomas (10.8%), and 7 patients had meningiomas (8.4%). The most frequent initial symptoms included pulsatile tinnitus (84.3%), conductive hearing loss (75.9%), and hoarseness (34.9%). Sixty-one patients (73.5%) underwent surgery, 18.1% had radiotherapy, and 8.4% were observed. Total tumor removal was achieved in 81% of surgery cases. New lower cranial nerve (CN) deficits occurred after surgery in 18.9% of GJ, 22.2% of schwannoma, and 50% of the 4 meningiomas. At last follow-up, 88.1% of surgical patients had normal or near-normal (House-Brackmann I or II) facial function.


CONCLUSIONS
Total resection of GJ tumors, meningiomas, and lower CN schwannomas can be a curative treatment. However, subtotal removal may be required to preserve CN function, vital vascular structures, and the brainstem. Postoperative radiotherapy is used to control residual tumor. When postoperative complications develop in patients, early rehabilitation is important to decrease mortality and morbidity. Therefore, patients should be closely followed.
Fayad
Jose N
JN
House Ear Institute and House Ear Clinic, Los Angeles, California 90057, USA. jfayad@hei.org
Keles
Bahar
B
Brackmann
Derald E
DE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D005155:Facial Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005925:Glomus Jugulare Tumor / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008579:Meningioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome