The treatment of glomus jugulare tumors is controversial. Changes in the surgical treatment of glomus jugulare tumors at The House Ear Clinic have allowed complete resection in 85% of patients with minimal morbidity and no surgical mortalities. Our experience with 52 previously untreated patients with glomus jugulare tumors is reviewed. Two primary surgical techniques were used. The mastoid/neck approach was used in 9 patients with small tumors limited to the jugular bulb. The infratemporal fossa approach was used in the remaining 43 tumors. Lower cranial nerve preservation was possible in the majority of patients with normal preoperative function. Modifications in the management of the facial nerve during the infratemporal fossa approach have resulted in good recovery of facial function (House grade I/VI or II/VI) in 95% of patients. Most patients (85%) were able to fully resume all preoperative activities. Our results suggest that surgical management is the treatment of choice in younger patients with glomus jugulare tumors.

Intralabyrinthine schwannomas are rare tumors with optimal treatment being determined by the symptoms, tumor location, and hearing. Findings of an intralabyrinthine schwannoma on magnetic resonance imaging may be easily overlooked and attributed to inflammatory changes.