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Radiation therapy for paragangliomas of the temporal bone
Author(s) -
Boyle Jay O.,
Shimm David S.,
Coulthard Stanley W.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-199008000-00018
Subject(s) - medicine , radiation therapy , surgery , embolization , paraganglioma , radiology
Treatment of paragangliomas of the temporal bone (glo‐mus jugulare and glomus tympanicum tumors) is controversial, with both surgery and radiation therapy having their advocates. This paper discusses the experience at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center in treating 10 cases of this uncommon tumor between 1971 and 1988. Seven of 10 cases were initially treated using irradiation and achieved complete tumor control for a mean of 67 months (range = 23‐107 months). Two patients, one treated surgically and the other by embolization, had recurrences and were salvaged by radiation, and neither has recurred. The final patient is disease‐free 9 months after embolization and surgery. There have been no serious sequelae of treatment. We conclude that moderate‐dose irradiation can safely control most temporal bone paragangliomas.