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Sub-Category:

Vascular Tumors

Number of Conditions: 1

Glomus Tumors (Paragangliomas)

Specialty: Ear

Category: Tumors and Growths of the Ear

Sub-category: Vascular Tumors

Symptoms:
pulsatile tinnitus; hearing loss; dizziness; ear fullness; cranial nerve deficits in advanced cases

Root Cause:
Rare, usually benign vascular tumors arising from paraganglionic tissue in the middle ear or along cranial nerves.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
MRI and/or CT imaging; angiography may be used for vascular mapping; biopsy if needed.

Treatment:
Surgical excision; radiation therapy for inoperable or residual tumors.

Medications:
Medications are not typically used to treat glomus tumors. Pre-surgical embolization agents may be used to minimize bleeding during surgery.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Very rare; estimated at 1 in 1.3 million people per year.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history (hereditary paraganglioma syndromes), age (middle-aged adults), and certain genetic mutations (e.g., SDH gene mutations).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally favorable for benign tumors; potential recurrence or incomplete removal in complex cases.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Hearing loss, cranial nerve damage, stroke (in rare cases), and rare malignant transformation.