Glomus tumors

Abstract

Glomus tumors (GTs) are rare, slow-growing, invasive, highly vascular neoplasms that arise within the paraganglionic tissue of the lower cranial nerves. The ideal treatment for patients with GTs is still under debate. Treatment options include open surgery, endovascular embolization, fractionated radiation therapy (FRT), and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), alone or in combination. Surgical resection is currently the primary treatment for enlarging or symptomatic GTs, however such an option is associated with significant risks. In the event surgical intervention is not chosen as primary therapy, radiation therapy may be an initial or adjuvant treatment for patients with GTs. Recently, SRS has gradually replaced FRT because of its shorter treatment lengths and smaller field sizes. SRS has also demonstrated superior local tumor control and lower complication rates than any other GT treatment modality. Multisession CyberKnife SRS is safe and has produced excellent outcomes when used as a primary and/or secondary treatment of GTs.