title: Local control of glomus tumors of the head & neck by radiation therapy and surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Glomus tumors are rare tumors, highly vascular and typically radiosensitive. Therapeutic options include surgery, radiation therapy (RT), embolisation or any combination of them, but the appropriate treatment still remains a challenge. The purpose of this study was to report the results of local control of 7 patients with glomus tumors treated with surgery and external beam RT (EBRT).
  
  
  METHODS
  All of the patients underwent primary surgery and then postoperative EBRT. Follow-up was calculated from the date of initiation of EBRT and ranged from 3 to 15 years (mean 7.14, median 6.2). The likelihood of local control was analysed using the Kaplan-Meier product limit method. We also analysed the average duration of response between two groups of patients with different doses of EBRT as well as the presence of acute and late EBRT complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Local control was obtained in 6/7 (85.7%) patients. Moreover, local control was achieved in 3/4 (75%) patients with recurrent glomus tumors, while in patients with postoperative residual disease local control was obtained in 3/3 (100%) of them. Patients who received <50 Gy (n=2) had shorter average duration of response compared to patients who received >50 Gy (n=5; p=0.248). There were no severe treatment complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgery and RT represent an appropriate treatment approach for advanced glomus tumors with acceptable complications.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Department of Radiation Oncology, Belgrade, Serbia. slafi@sbb.rs
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vucicevic
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nikitovic
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Radenkovic
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zivanovic
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bokun
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rakocevic
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Milosevic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005918:Glomus Tumor / Q000628:therapy*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage