Metastases from glomus jugulare tumours

This review describes the features of glomus jugulare tumours with metastas es. There were 100 sites of metastasis in the 53 cases previously reported. The sites of metastasis may be summarized as bone (33), lungs (23), lymph nodes (19), liver (nine) and other (16). Metastases presented up to 30 year s after the initial treatment. The mean age of patients was 45 years and th e sex ratio was approximately two females to one male, with no significant difference compared to non-metastatic tumours. There was a significantly hi gher incidence of pain and a significantly lower incidence of hearing loss at presentation compared to non-metastatic tumours. The commonest treatment was a combination of surgery and radiotherapy. The duration of symptoms be fore diagnosis was significantly shorter and the rates of persistent or rec urrent local disease and death were significantly higher than for non-metas tatic tumours. This review highlights the fact that glomus jugulare tumours are not always benign.