Giant cell tumors of the jugular foramen

Purpose: To review the diagnosis and treatment of giant cell tumors of the jugular foramen. Materials and Methods: Atypical case is reported. Symptoms, signs, and diag nostic studies are reviewed. Photomicrographs and angiographic studies show ing the differences between these and glomus jugulare tumors are provided. A coherent approach to their management is presented. Results: These hypervascular, traditionally radioresistant tumors may cause pulsatile tinnitus, conductive hearing loss, and lower cranial nerve pares is. Angiographic studies showed a hypervascular lesion supplied by numerous small branches of the external carotid artery, making embolization difficu lt. Complete resection was achieved by an infratemporal fossa approach with preoperative embolization. Conclusion: Giant cell tumors of the temporal bone may mimic glomus jugular e tumors with respect to anatomic location, cranial nerve deficits, and vas cularity. Copyright (C) 1999 by W.B. Saunders Company.