Jugular and tympanic paragangliomas
Guinand, N.; Guyot, J.-P.; Kos, I.
Revue Medicale Suisse 4(173): 2094-2097
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 1660-9379 PMID: 18959077 Document Number: 618675
Jugular and tympanic paragangliomas are the most frequent tumors of the middle ear. They appear as a reddish, pulsatile, retrotympanic mass. Patients complain from hearing loss and pulsatile tinnitus. Tumors are most often benign. Secretory forms are rare. Angio-MRI and CT-scan are gold standard. MIBG or octreotid scintigraphies are helpful to rule out multiple lesions. The treatment consists in surgery alone, radiotherapy alone or association of both. Often, embolisation prior to surgery decreases hemorrhagic risks. Vital prognosis is good. The functional outcome is critical in extensive tumors.