Experience of Patients with Paragangliomas in Our Department

Background and Aim: The aim of this study is to report on three cases of glomus tympanicum that presented in our clinic. Glomus tumors, also called paragangliomas, originate from nonchromaffin cells. The tumor is vascular and slowly grows from capillary and precapillary vessels. All three of our patients were women, ages 65, 68, and 73 years. The patients' symptoms were unilateral tinnitus and hearing loss. The third case also had facial nerve palsy, hoarseness, and dysphagia. Audiological evaluation, CT, and MRI scans of the brain and temporal bone were obtained. All three patients were treated with surgical removal of the tumor through tympanic mastoidectomy. In all cases, the follow-up period was approximately 4 years. In this time period, two of the three patients remained free of symptoms. Recurrence occurred in one case, and adjuvant radiotherapy was carried out. Conclusions: Careful clinical evaluation and imaging studies (CT, MRI) of the temporal bone and the scull base are very important for the diagnosis of glomus tympanicum. Surgical removal is the treatment of choice. In patients where surgery is not possible, radiotherapy is indicated.