title: Jugulotympanic paragangliomas in southern Finland: a 40-year experience suggests individualized surgical management.
abstract: Treatment of jugulotympanic paragangliomas (JTPGLs) remains challenging with no clear guidelines for management or follow-up. The aim of this retrospective case-note study was to assess long-term results of operatively and conservatively managed JTPGLs between years 1974-2013. A total of 36 patients with JTPGLs were identified. Clinical characteristics and management outcomes of patients were reviewed. Data were extracted on demographics, symptoms, timing of diagnosis, tumor location and size, embolization, and management, including pre- and post-operative imaging, analysis of operative techniques, and follow-up. Pulsatile tinnitus and hearing loss were the most common presenting symptoms. Thirty-four (94 %) patients were treated with primary surgical therapy and two (6 %) with radiotherapy. The surgical approaches included endaural approach for Fisch Class A tumors and a variety of approaches for Fisch Class B-D tumors with an increasing predilection for function-preserving surgery. Eight (24 %) patients received subtotal resection. Five (15 %) patients had a local recurrence within 10 years after primary surgery. Two (6 %) patients suffered a permanent cranial nerve (CN) deficit after primary surgery. We advocate radical surgery when tumor resection is possible without compromising CNs. Function-preserving surgery with at least a 10-year follow-up for Fisch Class B-D tumors should be considered if CNs are in danger.
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Centre, Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, 00029, Helsinki, HUS, Finland. taija.nicoli@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Taija K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Nicoli
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Centre, Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, 00029, Helsinki, HUS, Finland.
authors.forename: Saku T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Sinkkonen
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Centre, Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, 00029, Helsinki, HUS, Finland.
authors.forename: Turkka
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Anttila
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Centre, Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, 00029, Helsinki, HUS, Finland.
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mäkitie
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Centre, Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, 00029, Helsinki, HUS, Finland.
authors.forename: Jussi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jero
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005925:Glomus Jugulare Tumor / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Jugulotympanic; Morbidity; Paraganglioma