[Efficacy of first-line radiation for non-resectable carotid paraganglioma].
BACKGROUND
Carotid paragangliomas are rare. Surgical resection is the primary treatment. However, when surgery is impossible, radiation therapy is an alternative potentially enabling local control with less morbidity. We report a case of good local control of an unresectable paraganglioma after external beam radiation.


METHODS
A 72-year-old-woman, had a 4-year history of right facial palsy associated with pulsatile tinnitus, episodic ear bleeding and ipsilateral hearing loss. Physical examination revealed a retro-mandibular and sub-mastoid pulsatile mass. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a large carotid paraganglioma involving the temporal bone. Since surgical resection was impossible, our patient was given external beam radiation therapy at a dose of 60 Gy. At 12 months follow-up, local control was good without significant toxicity.


CONCLUSIONS
External beam radiation therapy seems to be a good alternative therapy for local control of carotid paragangliomas if surgical resection is impossible.
Service de Radiothérapie, Institut National d'Oncologie, Rabat, Maroc. issamlalya@yahoo.fr
I
I
Lalya
A
A
Mechchat
I
I
Lalya
T
T
Kebdani
K
K
Hassouni
L
L
Kanouni
K
K
Andaloussi
M
M
Elmarjani
K
K
Hadadi
H
H
Sifat
H
H
Mansouri
Y
Y
Bensaid
N
N
Benjaafar
B K
BK
Elgueddari
D000368:Aged; D002339:Carotid Arteries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010235:Paraganglioma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D019043:Vascular Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*