Hostname: page-component-6766d58669-kl59c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-05-19T11:04:55.974Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Management of a catecholamine-secreting tympanicum glomus tumour: case report

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 February 2008

H Kouzaki ,
J Fukui  and
T Shimizu
H Kouzaki*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Shiga, Japan
J Fukui
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Shiga, Japan
T Shimizu
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Shiga, Japan
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Hideaki Kouzaki, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Tsukinowa-cho, Seta, Otsu, 520-2192, Japan. Fax: +81 77 548 2783 E-mail: hkohzaki@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

To report the safe management and treatment of a catecholamine-secreting tympanicum glomus tumour.

Case report:

A 73-year-old women presented with a catecholamine-producing glomus tympanicum tumour, complaining of hearing impairment and left ear pain. Physical examination revealed a red, pulsating swelling in the left tympanic membrane. Computed tomography demonstrated a soft tissue mass filling the entire middle-ear cavity and a partial osteolytic lesion in the internal carotid artery. Angiographic examination revealed a densely contrasting tumour with feeding vessels from the ascending pharyngeal artery. Concentrations of serum noradrenalin and urine vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) were high. The tumour was completely resected using a potassium titanyl phosphate laser, the feeding vessels having been embolised the previous day. Concentrations of serum noradrenalin and urine VMA normalised following the operation.

Conclusion:

Pre-operative embolisation is useful in the treatment of catecholamine-secreting tympanicum glomus tumours, not only for preventing a hypertensive crisis but also for reducing bleeding. The potassium titanyl phosphate laser is useful for complete resection of the tumour.

Keywords

Glomus TumourEmbolizationKTP LaserCatecholamine

Information

Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 122 , Issue 12 , December 2008 , pp. 1377 - 1380
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

1Guild, SR. A hitherto unrecognized structure; the glomus jugularis in man. Anat Rec 1941;79:28–9Google Scholar
2Schwaber, MK, Glasscock, ME, Nissen, AJ, Jackson, CG, Smith, PG. Diagnosis and management of catecholamine-secreting glomus tumors. Laryngoscope 1984;94:1008–15CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3Fisch, U. Infratemporal fossa approach for glomus tumors of the temporal bone. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1982;91:474–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4Parkinson, D. Intracranial pheochromocytoma (active glomus juglare): case report. J Neurosurg 1969;31:91–100CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5Springate, SC, Weichelbaum, RR. Radiation or surgery for chemodectoma of the temporal bone: a review of local control and complications. Head Neck 1990;12:303–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed