[Attempted treatment of a voluminous tympano-jugular and retropharyngeal glomus tumor by embolization].

The authors report a case of glomus tumor effectively treated by embolisation. The very large size of this tumor, the age and very poor general condition of the patient due to swallowing difficulties represented a contraindication to classical methods of treatment. Elective devascularisation was carried out by embolisation of the tumour itself using non-resorbable inert material by way of selective catheterisation of the vessels supplying it, almost all of which arose from the external carotid. Rapid and durable disappearance of part of the left cranial nerve involvement, in particular swallowing difficulties, reflected the effectiveness of the method. 18 months after this attempt at palliative treatment, the patient's condition remains satisfactory, with no detectable evidence of any recurrence or progression of the tumour.