Treatment of glomus jugulare tumors in patients with advanced age: planned limited surgical resection followed by staged gamma knife radiosurgery: a preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE: To minimize treatment comorbidities in glomus jugulare tumor patients with advanced age while reducing pulsatile tinnitus and preserving or improving residual hearing using a limited middle ear/mastoid tumor resection and postoperative gamma knife radiosurgery to tumor remnants in the jugular foramen region. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective consecutive case review of five patients. SETTING: Tertiary referral, academic medical center. PATIENTS: Patients with advanced age (mean, 69.6 yr; range, 61-78 yr) harboring symptomatic glomus jugulare tumors. INTERVENTION: All patients were treated with resection of middle ear and mastoid portions of tumor and subsequent gamma knife radiosurgery to jugular foramen portion of tumor. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Length of hospitalization; hearing, pulsatile tinnitus, cranial nerve, and tumor control status. RESULTS: All patients were treated on an outpatient surgical basis without the need for blood transfusion. There were no incidents of a change in cranial nerve status (Cranial Nerves VII, IX, X, XI, and XII) in the immediate postoperative period. All patients had improvement or resolution of pulsatile tinnitus with preservation or improvement of preoperative hearing levels. Tumor volume was stable or reduced in all patients at mean follow-up of 19 months (range, 11-24 mo). Gamma knife radiosurgery (mean peripheral dose of 15 Gy) was not associated with any significant immediate or delayed complications. CONCLUSION: Short-term data reveals that staged microsurgical and radiosurgical therapy for glomus jugulare tumors in the symptomatic patient with advanced age is safe and yields favorable results regarding tinnitus, hearing, and cranial nerve status. Long-term data are needed to further evaluate the effectiveness of this treatment algorithm before extrapolating this treatment option to younger patients.     

Stereotastic radiosurgery for glomus jugulare tumors

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Surgery is considered to be the mainstay of treatment for glomus jugulare tumors. A subset of patients are poor surgical candidates based on age, medical problems, tumor size, or prior treatment failure. The purpose of this study was to review our results with stereotactic radiosurgery (gamma knife treatment) in this group of patients, with particular attention to adverse reactions and symptom relief. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review and phone survey. METHODS: Charts were reviewed for size and location of tumor, history of previous treatment, symptoms before and after treatment, amount of radiation received, acute and late complications, and functional level before and after treatment. Pre-treatment and posttreatment magnetic resonance imaging scans were also reviewed. Identified patients were then contacted for a phone interview. RESULTS: Eight patients were identified. Phone interviews were conducted with four patients. Four patients had failed previous treatment. Follow-up ranged from 7 to 104 months. One patient experienced an acute complication: intractable vertigo requiring hospitalization. No patient experienced delayed cranial neuropathies. No patient reported worsening of any of the following symptoms: pulsatile tinnitus, hearing loss, facial weakness, hoarseness, or difficulty swallowing. Three patients reported improvement in their pulsatile tinnitus. Two patients reported improvement in hearing loss, and one patient each reported improvement in vertigo and difficulty swallowing. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results suggest that stereotactic radiosurgery is useful to control symptoms and may be delivered safely in patients with primary or recurrent glomus jugulare tumors who are poor surgical candidates.     

The evolution of surgical approaches for posterior fossa meningiomas.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate surgical outcomes for the treatment of posterior fossa meningiomas at the House Ear Clinic from 1987 to 2001. We review our current treatment algorithm and present our postoperative outcomes with attention to facial and auditory neural preservation. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: Tertiary care center. PATIENTS: Medical records of 71 patients who underwent posterior fossa meningioma surgery at the House Ear Clinic were reviewed. INTERVENTION: All patients had surgical removal of their meningioma via translabyrinthine, transcochlear, retrosigmoid, extended middle fossa, or combined petrosal approaches by House Ear Clinic neurotologists and neurosurgeons. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Preoperative and postoperative auditory and facial nerve function data were collected. Patient and tumor characteristics including presenting symptoms, completion of tumor resection, and complications secondary to surgery were also recorded. RESULTS: The most common presenting symptoms in this series were otologic, with hearing loss (61%), tinnitus (58%), and imbalance (58%) as the three most common. Gross total resection was achieved in 67 (94%) patients. Hearing-preservation surgery was attempted in 37 (52%) patients (68% via extended middle fossa or combined approach). Twenty-one patients with preoperative Class A hearing had follow-up audiometric data and 18 (86%) had serviceable hearing preserved. Excluding transcochlear craniotomies, 85% of patients had normal facial nerve function postoperatively. Cerebrospinal fluid leak (6%) was the most common complication. CONCLUSIONS: Advances in microsurgical techniques have greatly changed our management of patients with posterior fossa meningiomas. These changes have reduced postoperative morbidity. Specifically, use of the anterior and posterior petrosal approaches has facilitated facial and auditory neural preservation while not compromising the extent of tumor excision.     

Management of endolymphatic sac tumors: a case series report

Objective To study clinical characteristics of endolymphatic sac tumor (ELST) and its diagnosis and treatment. Methods ELST was diagnosed in 6 cases based on surgical and histological findings. These cases were reviewed for their clinical manifestations, differential diagnosis and surgical treatment techniques. Results There were 1 male and 5 females in this group, aged from 28 to 59 years (mean age=38.7 years). The tumor was in left ear in 4 cases and in right ear in the other 2 cases. Disease courses ranged from 5 to 30 years (mean duration= 12.6 years). Clinical presentations included sensorineural hearing loss (n=4), otorrhea and tinnitus (n=2), tinnitus and facial spasm(n=1), otorrhea with facial paralysis(n=l), and hearing loss with tinnitus (n=2). None of the cas-es was diagnosed as ELST preoperatively. Two cases were misdiagnosed as glomus jugulare tumor, 2 as chronic suppurative otitis media, 1 as sweat gland adenoma on biopsy and 1 as temporal bone tumor. Tumors were sprgi-tally resected in all 6 cases via the mastoidectomy (n=2) or combined oto-cervical or cranio-oto-cervical ap-proaches(n=4). Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea occurred in 1 case. The tumors were confirmed on histo-logical examination to be a low-grade adenocarcinoma. All patients have survived at the time of this paper. Conclusion ELST is rare and commonly misdiagnosed and inadequately treated. Its prognosis is relatively favor-able because of its slow growth rate.     

Management of acoustic schwannoma

PURPOSE: To discuss the optimal management for patients with acoustic schwannoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Review of the pertinent literature. RESULTS: Microsurgery, stereotactic radiosurgery, and fractionated radiotherapy result in cure rates that approximate 90% at 5 years. Depending on tumor extent and surgical approach, the morbidity of microsurgery may exceed that of stereotactic radiosurgery and fractionated radiotherapy. Patients with useful hearing before treatment may have a higher likelihood of hearing preservation after radiotherapy compared with radiosurgery. CONCLUSION: Both microsurgery and radiosurgery are good options for patients with tumors less than 3 cm. Depending on tumor extent and the surgical approach, the morbidity of microsurgery may exceed that of radiosurgery. Patients with useful hearing may have a higher likelihood of hearing preservation after radiotherapy. Microsurgery is preferred for patients in whom the disease progresses after initial irradiation and in patients with tumors larger than 3 cm.     

Skull base surgery for removal of temporal bone tumors

CONCLUSION: When selecting the appropriate surgical approach the pathological type of tumor, the physiological status as well as the functional aspects should be considered. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each surgical technique and knowledge of the particular tumor biology facilitates selection of the most appropriate surgical approach and a successful outcome. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to review cases that underwent skull base surgery for a variety of tumors that involved the temporal bone. We reviewed a single center's 25-year experience for epidemiologic characteristics, symptoms, treatment type and outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records and radiological images of 91 patients, who underwent skull base surgery, were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Among the 91 patients, 61 cases had benign disease and 30 had malignancies. A facial nerve schwannoma was the most common benign intratemporal tumor and a squamous cell carcinoma was the most common malignant tumor. With the facial nerve schwannoma, facial nerve paralysis and hearing loss were the most common presenting complaints; otalgia was the most common presenting symptom for temporal bone cancer. For patients with a glomus tumor, there was a characteristic pulsating tinnitus. A majority of the facial nerve schwannomas were resectable through the transmastoid approach. The infratemporal fossa approach type A was usually required for lower cranial nerve schwannomas and glomus jugulare tumors. However, the fallopian bridge technique with hypotympanectomy was another surgical option. Partial temporal bone resection and subtotal temporal bone resections were performed in cases with temporal bone cancer. The disease free 5-year survival of the temporal bone cancers was 42% and for the squamous cell carcinomas, it was 44%.     

Surgical outcomes of middle fossa approach in intracanalicular vestibular schwannoma

Abstract

Conclusion: Middle fossa approach (MFA) shows a hearing preservation rate of 86% and facial nerve function was preserved with HB grade I or II in 93%. MFA is a good treatment option for intra-canalicular vestibular schwannomas when surgical excision is needed.

Background: Surgical outcomes of vestibular schwannoma have progressively improved with the advancement of microsurgical instruments. MFA is known to have better chances to preserve hearing, while it has limited access to the posterior fossa, limitation of tumor size, and higher risk of post-operative facial nerve weakness.

Objectives: To investigate surgical outcomes and clinical efficiency of MFA in vestibular schwannoma.

Methods: A retrospective study was done in 14 patients who underwent MFA for vestibular schwannoma in Asan Medical Center.

Results: The median age at diagnosis was 46.3 years. At initial presentation, 57% of the patients had vertigo, 43% hearing disturbance, and 64% tinnitus. The mean tumor size was 9.7?mm. The tumors were completely resected in 86% of the patients. Hearing was post-operatively preserved in 12 patients and two patients lost their hearing following surgery. Facial nerve function post-operatively remained unchanged in 12 patients (86%).     

ANTERIOR HYPOTYMPANIC APPROACH FOR GLOMUS TUMOR OF THE INFRATEMPORAL FOSSA.

The anterior hypotympanic approach to the infratemporal fossa permits direct exposure of glomus jugularc and glomus tympanicum tomors of the middle ear, hypotympanum and petrous apex with the preservation of normal structures and hearing. Smaller glomus tumors arising in the middle car extend anteriorly along the paths of least resistance into the hypotympanum and petrous apex to involve the carotid canal and, only later in the course of disease, extensively involve the jugular bulb, neck, or mastoid air cell system. Clinical experience demonstrates that this approach can effectively cure or control small glomus tumors in selected patients. In patients with more extensive disease, the surgical field may be expanded by removing the mastoid tip with facial nerve mobilization to remove the jugular bulb and posterior tumor extensions while preserving middle ear function and hearing.     

Surgical management of facial neuromas: lessons learned.

OBJECTIVE: Primary tumors of the facial nerve are rare, representing 1% of all intrapetrous lesions. We analyzed the management and surgical outcomes of 16 patients with multisegment facial neuromas treated at our institution during a 16-year period. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective chart review. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: All patients included in the study had surgical management of their facial neuroma. There were 9 women and 7 men. The mean age was 46 years, with a mean follow-up period of 3 years. INTERVENTION: Surgical excision (n = 15) or decompression (n = 1) of facial neuroma. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Tumor location, presenting symptoms, hearing outcomes, and facial function. RESULTS: Thirteen (81%) patients had facial paresis as their presenting symptom. Unilateral hearing loss was present in 9 (56%) patients. Most tumors (n = 15) involved multiple segments of the facial nerve and ranged in size from 1.5 to 7 cm. Fifteen (94%) patients had the tumor completely excised, and 1 (6%) patient underwent needle decompression of the cystic component of the tumor. The geniculate ganglion was the most commonly involved (11 patients, 69%) segment of the nerve, followed by the labyrinthine and tympanic segments. Despite multiple types of reconstructive options used, the best recovery of facial function was a House-Brackmann Grade III in 12 patients. CONCLUSION: Treatment of facial neuromas depends on the extent of tumor, degree of facial paresis, and hearing function. We advocate complete resection of tumor when facial palsy exists. Patients with normal facial function and hearing may be advised on a more conservative treatment option such as radiologic observation, drainage of any cystic component of the tumor for histologic diagnosis, and/or bony decompression of the tumor.     

颈静脉鼓室球瘤诊治经验

目的 总结颈静脉鼓室球瘤诊治经验体会。方法 回顾性研究病理证实的10例颈静脉鼓室球瘤患者的临床资料。结果 颈静脉球瘤3例，鼓室球瘤7例。功能性颈静脉球瘤1例。家族性副节瘤1例。主要症状为搏动性耳鸣和听力下降，其他症状包括面瘫、眩晕、耳痛、吞咽困难、声嘶、咽部疼痛、阵发性高血压伴剧烈头痛、心悸。主要体征为鼓室内樱桃红肿物影和外耳道红色新生物，其他体征包括Brown征、上颈部包块、咽侧壁饱满隆起、Collet-Sicard综合征、Homer征和三叉神经受损。影像学检查包括颞骨薄层CT检查9例，颈动脉血管造影4例，MRI检查1例。耳鼻咽喉科8例，首诊其他科室2例。治疗：术前栓塞2例，单纯手术6例，手术 术后放射治疗4例。10例中随访9例，随访时间2～19年，中位随访期12年。6例肿瘤全切的鼓室球瘤患者无复发，3例次全切 术后放射治疗患者局部控制。1例失访。结论 颈静脉鼓室球瘤容易误诊，典型的临床表现结合影像学检查有助于诊断。要注意功能性和家族性颈静脉鼓室球瘤。鼓室球瘤应首选手术治疗，必要时可补充放射治疗。颈静脉球瘤，应该手术和放射治疗联合治疗。     

颈静脉球瘤10例诊疗分析

目的分析探讨颈静脉球瘤临床特点，总结手术疗效，提高该病诊治经验。方法回顾性分析10例经数字减影血管造影和/或术后病理证实的颈静脉球瘤患者的临床资料，总结该病的临床特征、影像学特点、围手术期处理、手术方式及随访效果。结果所有患者均为单耳发病，其中男2例，女8例。表现为单侧搏动性耳鸣6例，听力下降8例，耳痛及眩晕3例，耳流脓性或脓血性分泌物4例，因体检发现耳道肿物就诊1例。6例因肿物突入外耳道，鼓膜不能窥及，4例可透过鼓膜看见鼓室内红色搏动，鼓膜稍向外膨隆。纯音测听示传导性聋4例，混合性聋5例，感音神经性聋1例。所有患者均行颞骨CT及MRI检查，鼓室球瘤可见鼓室、外耳道内充填不规则软组织密度影；颈静脉球体瘤可见颈静脉孔区软组织密度影，周围呈“蚕蚀样”骨质破坏，肿物突向鼓室及外耳道，增强扫描可见明显强化。3例颈静脉球体瘤行DSA检查可见颈静脉孔区浓密肿瘤染色，2例由咽升动脉供血，1例由咽升动脉和枕动脉供血。6例鼓室球瘤患者均行耳道乳突径路鼓室球瘤切除术，3例颈静脉球体瘤患者行颞下窝A型径路颈静脉球体瘤切除术，1例颈静脉球体瘤患者行伽玛刀治疗。所有病例随访10个月至5.5年，均无复发，未出现影响生活的严重并发症。结论颈静脉球瘤有特征性的临床表现，以单侧搏动性耳鸣和不同程度的听力下降最为多见，结合仔细的专科查体和完善的影响学检查不难诊断。鼓室球瘤患者通过中耳显微手术能达到良好疗效，颈静脉球体瘤患者因解剖位置特殊，对术者及围手术期的规范化处理要求较高，并且要求诊疗团队具有侧颅底外科手术的知识及经验，否则容易引起严重并发症。     

Does intervention improve the natural course of glomus tumors? A series of 108 patients seen in a 32-year period.

To acquire more insight into the results of treatment versus the "natural" course of glomus tumors, we studied the clinical data of 108 patients, in 58 of whom the disease was hereditary. During a period of 32 years (1956 to 1988), 175 tumors were diagnosed: 52 glomus jugulotympanic tumors, 32 vagal body tumors, and 91 carotid body tumors. The results of radical surgical treatment were disappointing for tumors located at the skull base, ie, nonradical in 59% (n = 23) of the cases, but very good for the carotid body tumors, for which 96% (n = 68) radical excision was achieved. Moreover, surgery at the level of the skull base dramatically increased morbidity, since it frequently induced cranial nerve palsy. During the follow-up period (maximal observation time 32 years, mean 13.5 years) none of the patients died of residual or recurrent tumor or developed distant metastases, irrespective of the mode and outcome of treatment. When these results are combined with the results of pedigree analysis, a realistic approximation of the "natural" course of the disease for both hereditary and nonfamilial tumors can be made. The results raise the question of whether this natural behavior is really improved by intervention. We conclude that removal of carotid body tumors and solitary vagal body tumors should be considered in order to prevent future morbidity. However, for skull base and bilateral glomus tumors a more conservative monitored "wait and see" policy can be sensible and should be considered in any proposal for treatment of head and neck paragangliomas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Pulsatile tinnitus

Pulsatile tinnitus is an uncommon otological symptom. Objective pulsatile tinnitus has numerous causes, including benign intracranial hypertension, glomus tumours and atherosclerotic carotid artery disease. History and physical examination can give important information as to the underlying diagnosis. Radiographic evaluation is essential in all patients with pulsatile tinnitus. Many patients have a treatable underlying aetiology. Early diagnosis and appropriate intervention may save patients from unnecessary morbidity.     

Tinnitus in elderly patients

Tinnitus is the perceived sensation of sound in the absence of acoustic stimulation. Spontaneous idiopathic tinnitus is a significant interdisciplinary therapeutic problem. In elderly patients it most frequently coexists with sensorineural hearing loss. The chief idea of tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) in treatment of chronic tinnitus consists of following strategies: low level and broad band noise surroundings, diversion of the attention to other things and psychological counseling and therapy. The purpose of this study was to verify the benefits and ramifications of tinnitus retraining therapy in elderly patients suffering from chronic tinnitus with sensorineural hearing loss. Methods 30 subjects aged 65-90 years suffering from chronic tinnitus and sensorineural hearing loss were questioned about features of the tinnitus using a set of standardised questions. All of them were fitted with modern digital hearing aids and questioned about subjective hearing results after a month of follow-up. Main result 24 of the patients declared to have had considerable improvement in tolerance of the tinnitus. Main conclusion Fitting with hearing aids is an effective way of treatment in the majority of elderly patients with chronic tinnitus. The effectiveness of supplying elderly patients with hearing aids for tinnitus management depended in our group of patients on whether the patient had good speech understanding prior to fitting with hearing aids (speech discrimination score below and above 80%).     

Intralabyrinthine schwannomas: symptoms and managements

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristic presentations, radiologic findings and managements of the intralabyrinthine schwannomas. METHOD: Retrospective review of patient records, their managements, and review of the literature. RESULT: Four patients with a variety of otologic symptoms including hearing loss, vertigo, and tinnitus were found to have a schwannomas involving the labyrinth. In all cases, the inner ear lesions were preoperatively identified on magnetic resonance imaging, and the surgical removals were performed in all patients without serviceable hearing. The patients experienced improvement in their vertigo and tinnitus after surgery. Two patients were implanted the Bone-Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA) to reconstruct the pseudo-stereophonic hearing. CONCLUSION: Intralabyrinthine schwannomas are the rare tumours in the otology. The tumour can be removed by surgical approach, but we do not propose surgical excision for the patients with serviceable hearing. BAHA can give patients a post-operative monaural pseudo-stereophonic hearing.     

Management of head and neck paragangliomas: A series of 9 cases and review of the literature

We conducted a retrospective study of the long-term functional results of surgery for head and neck paragangliomas. Our study population was made up of 9 patients-4 men and 5 women, aged 22 to 59 years (mean: 46.6; median: 51)-who had undergone surgical excision of a head and neck paraganglioma from January 2002 through December 2006 in the ENT Department at Pugliese-Ciaccio Hospital in Catanzaro, Italy. Of the 9 paragangliomas, 4 were carotid body tumors, 2 were glomus tympanicum tumors, and 3 were glomus vagale tumors. None of the cases was bilateral or hereditary. Complete tumor resection was achieved in 8 patients; in the remaining patient, a small amount of intradural residual vagus nerve paraganglioma had to be left in situ. The internal carotid artery was preserved in all 4 resections of carotid body tumors. There was only 1 case of postoperative lower cranial nerve deficits, which occurred in a patient with a carotid body tumor. Follow-up ranged from 12 to 53 months (mean: 37.2; median: 36), and no recurrences were documented. Our small sample showed that surgical treatment of head and neck paragangliomas provided excellent tumor control with low postoperative morbidity, even in patients with large tumors. A wait-and-scan policy may be more appropriate for patients at an advanced age or who are otherwise at high surgical risk, as well as for those whose tumors have recurred following radiotherapy.     

颈静脉球瘤诊断与治疗(附8例报告)

目的 探讨颈静脉球瘤的临床特点、诊断要点及巨大颈静脉球瘤的手术治疗方法。方法 回顾性分析2000至2009年深圳市第二人民医院及山东大学齐鲁医院耳鼻咽喉科收治的8例颈静脉球瘤的病例资料。结果 8例患者中,男5例,女3例; 33～62岁;均为单耳病变,左耳2例,右耳6例;主要临床症状为搏动性耳鸣、声音嘶哑、听力下降和面瘫。临床表现结合CT、MRI等影像学检查可明确诊断。所有病例均经术后病理证实。按1979年Fisch分型,A型0耳,B型1耳,C型1耳,D1型4耳,D2型2耳。均给予手术治疗,2例行单纯乳突根治术,6例行颞颈联合入路彻底切除肿瘤。术中2例出现脑脊液漏均经硬脑膜修补后治愈;2例术后面瘫,1例经治疗后缓解,1例为永久性;原有声音嘶哑、搏动性耳鸣缓慢消失。随访6例,单纯乳突根治术2例中,1例随访5年未复发,1例失访;余5例中,有1例术后第2年复发,给予放射治疗; 2例随访7年,1例3年,1例2年,均未复发。结论 颈静脉球瘤易误诊;诊断主要根据病史、临床及影像学检查,其中影像学对确诊起重要作用。手术切除是目前治疗颈静脉球瘤最好的方式,入路的选择对于手术的成功起决定性作用。     

新疆不同民族耳鸣患者高频听力特点分析

目的探讨新疆不同民族以耳鸣为主要症状就诊患者的高频听力特征。方法对329例主观性耳鸣为主要症状的门诊就诊患者行病史和高频测听分析。结果各民族中汉族患者最多,女性多于男性,年龄分布以30～49岁为高峰,病程至少为半年以上,以无听力减退的耳鸣为主诉症状,纯音测听检查约1／3患者出现轻度感音神经性的听力减退。约2／3以上出现高频听力减退,其中以4kHz频率听力减退为主,且以50～70dB最多见。结论以耳鸣为主诉症状的患者当中大部分可测出高频听力的减退,为早期发现听力减退、防治耳聋等具有一定参考意义。     

Glomus tumors of the temporal bone--surgical concept and results]

Between 1985 and 1991, 36 patients with glomus tumors of the temporal bone were operated. More than 60% of the patients presented with an advanced disease (Class C and D) according to the initially discret and slowly progressive clinical signs. Pulsatile tinnitus, hearing loss and paresis of the lower cranial nerves IV to XII were most often found. The management of the patients requires a complete surgical resection with different approaches depending on the extension of the tumor. High resolution CT of the temporal bone and selective angiography of the tumor feeding vessels proved as reliable and necessary imaging tools to determine the size of the tumor and thereby the surgical procedure. Class A tumors (n = 4) were completely resected by an enaural transmeatal approach. Class B tumors (n = 10) were removed completely in all cases by a combined transmeatal-transmastoid approach. A conductive hearing loss in 2 cases and transient facial paresis in one case were observed. Class C tumors (Glomus jugulare tumors, n = 16) required an infratemporal fossa approach type A. A complete resection was achieved in 87.5%. Class D tumors (n = 6) with intracranial extension were managed in a two stage otoneurosurgical procedure. Due to the tumor size and the required surgical procedure a higher incidence of functional lesions (combined hearing loss, vertigo, cranial nerve pareses) was observed. A facial paresis occurred in all cases but was transient in most of them. The results show that functional conservation surgery for glomus tumors of the temporal bone is only possible in Class A and B and some of the Class C tumors. This requires an early diagnosis.     

The current role of local intratympanic Gentamicin therapy in the management of unilateral Menière’s disease

Over the past 5 years 25 patients suffering from disabling unilateral Menière’s disease have been treated in our unit with local intratympanic Gentamicin therapy with the specific intent of creating a medical labyrinthectomy, together with preservation of hearing on the treated side. Results from the 16 patients who have completed a 2-year follow-up show that substantial control of vertigo was obtained in all subjects, while 87% experienced complete control of vertigo following treatment. In 66% this was achieved in association with a complete medical labyrinthectomy (no caloric response to an iced water stimulus). In 94% of patients the hearing on the treated side has remained unaffected, but tinnitus was largely unchanged. The simple treatment protocol uses a customized self-retaining intratympanic catheter system (courtesy of Exmoor Plastics Ltd). The findings suggest that local Gentamicin therapy is an effective treatment in patients with incapacitating unilateral Menière’s disease and is associated with low morbidity and good hearing preservation and thus provides a potentially superior alternative to the surgical treatment options currently available.