Surgical Management of Tympanojugular Paragangliomas—Own Experience

Introduction: The aim of the study was to show that surgical management of paragangliomas of the skull base is the primary treatment option.

Methods: In the period between1999 and 2008, 14 patients (age range, 22–73 years) with large tympanojugular paragangliomas underwent surgery to treat the condition. Preoperative embolization had been performed in all patients.

Results: Radical tumor removal was achieved in 8 patients. Small residual tumor in the remaining 6 patients was removed by revision surgery (1 case), treated by stereotactic radiosurgery (2 cases), or observed as long as the tumor remained stable on serial MRIs (3 cases). There were no major complications during or after surgery, the function of the cranial nerves was satisfactory and morbidity very low.

Conclusion: Because of good surgical results, a low complication rate and excellent quality of life, surgery of large tympanojugular paragangliomas with prior tumor embolization is the treatment of choice.