Temporal Bone Chemodectomas--comparing Surgery and Radiation Therapy

We reviewed the literature concerning curative treatment for chemodectomas of the temporal bone. Local control and complication rates were calculated from the published series for three therapeutic approaches: Surgery alone, radiation before or after surgery, and radiation alone. The local control rates were similar, 86%, 90%, and 93% respectively. Patients suffered a high rate of treatment-related morbidity following surgical excision of glomus jugulare lesions. Serious sequelae from radiation therapy were rare. We feel radiation therapy should be considered as primary treatment for glomus jugulare tumors.