Gamma knife radiosurgery for glomus jugulare tumours

The aim of this clinical study was to determine the tumour control rate, cl inical outcome and complication rate following gamma knife treatment for gl omus jugulare tumours. Between May 1992 and May 1998, 13 patients with glom us tumours underwent stereotactic radiosurgical treatment in our department . The age of these patients ranged from 21 to 80 years. The male : female r atio was 2:11. Six patients had primary open surgery for partial removal or recurrent growth and subsequent radiosurgical therapy. Radiosurgery was pe rformed as primary treatment in 7 cases. The median tumour volume was 6,4cm (3) (range: 4,6-13,7 cm(3)). The median marginal dose applied to an average isodose volume of 50% (30-50%) was 13,5 Gy (12-20Gy). In 10 patients =, a total of 48 MRI and CT follow-up scans were available. The remaining three patients have been excluded from the postradiosurgical evaluation since the observation time (t < 12 months) was too short or patients were lost to fo llow up. The median interval from Gamma Knife treatment to the last radiolo gical follow up was 37,6 months (5-68 months). In 4 patients (40%) decrease d tumour volumes were observed and in 6 cases (60%) the tumour size remaine d unchanged. Neurological follow-up examinations revealed improved clinical status in 5 patients (50%) and no complications occurred. According to our preliminary experience Gamma Knife radiosurgery represents an effective tr eatment option for glomus jugulare tumours.