An unusual combined glomus vagale and jugular tumor: A case report

INTRODUCTION: and importance: Head and neck paragangliomas are slowly growing benign tumors and they originate from specialized neural crest cells. We report an unusual combined glomus vagal and jugular tumor that was rarely described in the literature to the best of our knowledge. CASE PRESENTATION: A 51 years old female with no pathological history was presented to our ENT department with 6 months’ history of a right latero cervical swelling gradually increasing in size associated with a swallowing difficulties and hoarseness. Preoperatively clinical examination had found vagal and hypoglossal nerve paralysis. Cervical CT scan and MRI had shown glomus jugular tumor. The patient underwent a surgical excision with severe swallowing difficulties and facial palsy in the immediate postoperative period with a mild recovery afterwards. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Paragangliomas of the mesotympanum and jugular foramen most commonly present as a vascular middle ear mass. The most common presenting symptom is pulsatile tinnitus occurring in 80% followed by hearing loss (60%). Dysfunction of cranial nerves traversing the jugular foramen may be commonly encountered with resultant abnormalities of speech, swallowing and airway function. Vagal paragangliomas are the least common of the three primary craniocervical paragangliomas. The most common presenting sign is the presence of a painless neck mass accompanied occasionally by dysphagia and hoarseness. The association of both glomus vagal and jugular tumor is rarely described in the literature to the best of our knowledge. CONCLUSION: Head and neck paragangliomas are slowly growing benign tumors and they originate from specialized neural crest cells. Vagal paragangliomas are the least common of the three primary craniocervical paragangliomas. The association of both glomus vagal and jugular tumor is rarely described in the literature to the best of our knowledge. The choice of treatment depends on the location, size, and also biologic activity of the tumor as well as the physical condition of the patient.