Table of Contents
What is glomus Tympanicum?
Glomus tympanicum is a paraganglioma of the middle ear which is highly vascular and a type of benign tumour. It arises from the paraganglia of the middle ear. It is the most common primary neoplasm of the middle ear, and the second most common tumour of the temporal bone. 1.
How is glomus tumor diagnosed?
Imaging studies — Glomus tumors of the head and neck are diagnosed primarily through MRI and CT scans. The specific locations of these tumors are usually sufficient for a diagnosis. Angiograms — Because of their vascular nature, your doctor may also order an angiogram to confirm the diagnosis of glomus tumors.
What causes glomus Tympanicum?
Glomus tympanicum tumors arise from the tympanic nerve (Jacobson’s nerve) in the middle ear and may cause hearing loss and pulsatile tinnitus. Glomus jugulare tumors arise from the jugular foramen. If the tumor is large enough to extend into the middle ear, the term glomus jugulotympanicum is used.
How common is glomus Tympanicum?
Glomus tympanicum is the most common primary neoplasm of the middle ear and the second most common tumour of the temporal bone [1].
What does a glomus tumor look like?
Glomus Tumors usually present as a small, firm, reddish-blue bump underneath the finger nail. These lesions are usually quite small, less than 7mm in diameter. They can be extremely painful, are sensitive to temperature change, and tender on palpation.
Is a glomus tumor a hemangioma?
Frequency. Glomus tumors account for 1-5% of all soft-tissue tumors of the upper extremity, occurring in most cases in the nail bed ; however, the true incidence of glomus tumors could be even higher, likely as a result of misdiagnosis of many of these lesions as hemangiomas or venous malformations.
Does glomus tympanicum show up on CT scan?
On CT scan, glomus tympanicum appears as a soft tissue mass abutting the promontory of the middle ear [6]. There may be displacement of ossicles or bony erosion of the tympanic cavity. The finding of air or bone between the tumour and the jugular bulb virtually assures the diagnosis of a tympanicum.
What are the symptoms of a glomus tympanicum?
Other symptoms of a glomus tympanicum include a conductive hearing loss (caused by the tumor blocking sound transmission through the middle ear), ear pain and bleeding from the ear. Diagnosis is made based on the patient’s symptoms, physical examination findings and a combination of tests.
How is glomus tympanicum paraganglioma diagnosed?
Glomus tympanicum paragangliomas arise from the Jacobson nerve at the cochlear promontory . CT is usually the best modality to assess these masses. The Glasscock-Jackson and Fisch classifications of glomus tumors 5 are based on the local extension of the tumor and their effect on mortality and morbidity.
What is glomus tumour of the ear?
Glomus tumours are also known as paragangliomas, which may occur at any site in the body, including the carotid bodies. Glomus tympanicum is a paraganglioma of the middle ear which is highly vascular and a type of benign tumour. It arises from the paraganglia of the middle ear.