Glomus Tumors and Paragangliomas

Glomus tumors, or paragangliomas, grow slowly but can affect the surrounding tissue and cause significant damage. They often appear in the ear cavity, at the base of the skull or in the upper neck and cause symptoms like hearing loss and facial palsies. They may be inherited or result from a genetic mutation, and women and middle-aged adults are most prone to developing them. Although benign, glomus tumors will require treatment if they grow large and affect the central nervous system.

Within the AdventHealth Neuroscience Institute network, we offer expert and compassionate care for glomus tumors in people of all ages. Because the tumors usually don't respond to medications and chemotherapy, surgery is an important part of an effective treatment plan if the tumors produce severe symptoms. We specialize in minimally invasive treatments that use laser technology to remove the tumors or reduce their size. Using image-guided stereotactic neurosurgery, our surgeons can view 3D images of glomus tumors during surgery, which helps remove more of the masses. Recovery is quicker after minimally invasive surgeries as no incision is made.