Surgery for glomus tumors at the skull base.

Glomus tumors of the temporal bone frequently involve the skull base. In the present study, 34% of the tumors occurred with cranial nerve palsies and 15% invaded the CNS. The procedure for surgical resection of glomus tumors of the skull base is described. Results of the procedure included successful surgical resection of 80% of the glomus jugulare tumors and of 94% of the glomus tympanicum tumors. Tumor recurrence and persistence occurred only in the patients with CNS invasion.