Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

    Background: Glomus jugulare tumors are encapsulated, slowly growing, highly vascular and locally invasive tumors. These tumors arise from para-ganglionic cells and they are histologically benign. The purpose of this study is to evaluate Gamma Knife Radiosurgery (GKRS) on the local tumor control.

Methods: This study is an observational cross-sectional research in which thirty-four patients with histologically confirmed Glomus jugulare tumor underwent GKRS either as primary or an adjuvant therapeutic option. In 83% of patients, GKRS was the only treatment and the rest of the cases had previously undergone microsurgery. The tumor volume ranged from 1.7 to 2.3 cm³, and the Gamma Knife Radiosurgery was performed through 13 to 23 Grays and marginal dose of radiation with irradiation coverage of 35 to 70%. The median follow-up period after surgery was 24 months. The results were analyzed with SPSS V.11.5 and variants have been described as percentage or mean, median and standard deviation.

Results: In the all patients the tumor size decreased or remained unchanged. No patient had a tumor growth after the prescribed treatment dose and the major reported complication was the peri-tumoral brain edema.

Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that GKRS is an important option for Glomus jugulare tumors either as primary or adjuvant treatment. However, longer follow-up period is necessary to further clarify the long-term outcomes.