Lateral Skull Base Surgery for Glomus Tumors: Long-Term Control

TLDR

Modern microsurgery enables resection of extensive skull base glomus tumors, but risks major complications and new cranial nerve deficits, and limited data on recurrence and functional outcomes hinder accurate assessment of efficacy. The review aims to quantify major complication rates, cranial nerve deficits, long‑term control, and recurrence risk in patients undergoing lateral skull base resection of glomus jugulare tumors. A retrospective review of 176 patients (182 resections) from 1972 to 1998 at a tertiary referral center evaluated complications, recurrence, functional outcomes, and factors influencing them, with complete control achieved in 85% of cases. Recurrence occurred in 5.5% of cases, CSF leak in 4.5%, new cranial nerve deficits ranged from 21% to 39%, mortality was 2.7%, yet most patients achieved satisfactory functional recovery, confirming effective long‑term control.

Abstract

The age of modern microsurgery has made resection of glomus tumors with extensive skull base involvement possible. Resection of extensive lesions is not without risk of major complication or new cranial nerve deficit. Because glomus tumors are rare and slow growing, data reflecting recurrence risk after resection using modern skull base techniques are lacking. These factors complicate the accurate definition of efficacy of surgical resection and its functional cost. The object of this review is to determine the current incidence of major complications, the surgical cranial nerve deficit, the long-term control rate, and the recurrence risk in patients undergoing surgical resection of glomus jugulare tumors.Retrospective case review.Private practice tertiary referral center.One hundred seventy-six patients with glomus tumors underwent 182 lateral skull base resections between 1972 and 1998.Major complications, tumor recurrence, postoperative functional capacity, and factors affecting the incidence of each were assessed.Complete surgical control was achieved in 85% of cases. There were nine cases of recurrence, for a recurrent rate of 5.5% (9/164). Cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in 4.5% of cases with intracranial extension. New deficits for cranial nerves IX, X, XI, and XII occurred in 39%, 25%, 26%, and 21% of cases, respectively. Satisfactory functional recovery was achieved in an overwhelming majority of cases. The mortality rate was 2.7% (5/182).Surgical resection of glomus tumors is established as an effective technique with good functional outcomes and long-term control.