Glomus Tumors

One of the most common symptoms of glomus tumors is hearing your heartbeat in your ears, which doctors call pulsatile tinnitus. Other symptoms include hearing loss, voice changes, and problems with swallowing.

Glomus tumors can secrete chemicals called catecholamines that may increase your blood pressure and heart rate. This can cause a rapid heartbeat, dizziness, headache, and sweating. 

Types of Glomus Tumors
The two main types of glomus tumors are:

• Glomus tympanicum, located in the middle ear. These are usually very small.
• Glomus jugulare, located in or near the jugular bulb. These are usually more complicated to treat.

Glomus tumors can also form in the neck and carotid arteries.

Duke uses a team-based approach with subspecialized otolaryngologists (otologists/neurotologists) and neurosurgeons to determine whether surgery is your best treatment option. Their shared goal is to safely remove the tumor while minimizing injury to nearby nerves that affect your voice, swallowing function, facial function, hearing, and more. Among other factors, your surgical team considers:

• The size and location of your tumor
• Whether the tumor is compressing your brain
• Your symptoms, goals, and preferences

If your tumor is large, you may need an endovascular procedure a few days before surgery to embolize -- cut off the blood supply to -- the tumor. During this minimally invasive procedure, a surgeon makes a small incision and inserts a thin catheter into a major artery (usually in the groin). The catheter is threaded to the tumor site. Then, through the catheter, your surgeon uses tiny tools to block key blood vessels that feed the tumor.

Traditional Glomus Tumor Surgery
This complex operation requires surgeons to reroute a facial nerve to access and remove the tumor. As a result, you may experience temporary facial paralysis after surgery. Permanent facial paralysis is also a risk. You may need a temporary tracheostomy and feeding tube due to some nerves being weak after surgery.

Facial Nerve Bridge Surgical Technique
To further minimize the risk of damaging the facial nerve, Duke surgeons use a special technique called the “fallopian bridge” or facial nerve bridge technique. With this approach, your surgeons leave the facial nerve in place and navigate around it, thereby reducing the risk of facial nerve weakness. This option may not be appropriate for everyone.

Experienced Doctors, Dedicated Skull Base Center
While glomus tumors are rare, our experts regularly treat patients with these and other skull base tumors. Because glomus tumors can grow near important facial structures, treating them requires the skill, expertise, and coordinated care that can only be found at an experienced and comprehensive skull base center like Duke’s.

Diverse Care Team Offers Tailored Treatment
Our team is diverse, so you benefit from the know-how of specialists in otology and neurotology, otolaryngology, neurosurgery, radiation oncology, and more. You are the most important member of your care team. We consider your goals and preferences to create a treatment plan that’s right for you.

Support Services
Our team includes a range of providers who subspecialize in speech therapy and audiology, physical and occupational therapy, and balance problems. They can help treat the symptoms caused by your tumor. Duke also offers facial reanimation surgery for people who experience facial paralysis.

Patient Navigator Coordinates Your Care
A patient navigator helps guide you through your skull base tumor care. By helping schedule appointments, coordinating visits, and communicating your test results, they make your treatment journey easier by walking you through it step by step. And they are more than willing to answer all your questions along the way.