Facial paralysis associated with glomus jugulare tumors.

OBJECTIVE

To review the intraoperative findings and facial nerve management in nine patients who presented with facial paralysis associated with glomus jugulare tumors.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective analysis of patient medical records.

SETTING

Tertiary care academic medical center.

PATIENTS

All patients who presented with facial paralysis and a glomus jugulare tumor who underwent surgical resection of their tumors at our institution.

INTERVENTION

A postauricular infratemporal fossa approach for tumor removal and greater auricular interposition neural repair.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Intraoperative facial nerve findings and long-term facial recovery.

RESULTS

One hundred two patients underwent a postauricular infratemporal approach for resection of glomus jugulare tumor from July 1988 through July 2005. Nine of these patients presented with ipsilateral facial paralysis. The medial surface of the vertical segment was invaded by tumor in all nine cases. Facial recovery at 2 years was House-Brackmann Grade III in eight patients and Grade IV in one individual. Facial recovery did not significantly change after 2 years (mean follow-up of 7.4 years).

DISCUSSION

Facial nerve invasion of the vertical segment occurred in 9 (9%) of 101 patients in our series. Facial nerve resection with interposition grafting resulted in House-Brackmann Grade III in eight (89%) of nine patients. Facial nerve dissection and preservation was not possible when preoperative facial paralysis was evident.