Surgical Resection of Skull Base Glomus Jugulare Tumor via Posterolateral Approach after Preoperative Embolization of Ascending Pharyngeal Artery : A Case Report

Abstract

Glomus jugulare is slow growing, highly vascularized, histologically benign tumor. The authors report the case of huge glomus jugulare tumor treated by skull base surgical resection via posterolateral approach with preoperative embolization of ascending pharyngeal artery. A 59-year old female patient presented with symptoms of right side pulsatile tinnitus, hearing loss and hoarseness. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an approximately 5.7 cm mass along the right jugular foramen, extension to right cerebellopontine angle. Prior to surgical excision of tumor, the patient proceeded embolization in ascending pharyngeal artery. Next day, the patient proceeded a posterolateral approach to remove the skull base tumor. The purpose of this case report is to debate the effectiveness of preoperative embolization and posterolateral approach for the glomus jugulare tumor and its pathological result.