Glomus Tympanicum Tumors

Glomus tympanicum tumors are benign neoplasms that involve the tympanic membrane. The glomus tumors affect the glomobody of the middle ear. The glomobodies are tiny structures that regulate oxygen pressure in the ear and the mastoids.

Glomus tympanicum tumors usually affect one ear. They present with hearing loss and tinnitus. They can also cause headaches, bloody ear discharge, and palpations. Glomus tumors cause severe pain on the affected ear when they come in contact with cold air or water. The tumors have either a reddish or bluish discoloration behind the tympanic membrane when the ear canal is visualized.

Normal Ear Drum	Glomus Tympanicum

Females are almost three times more likely to have glomus tympanicum tumors than males. Adults between the ages of 40-60 are most likely to develop glomus tympanicum tumors.

Visualization of the tympanic membrane is performed using an otoscope. Hearing tests are also utilized to determine the amount of hearing loss. CT scans are done to determine the size of the tumor. Glomus tympanicum tumors appear as thickness on CT images.

Glomus jugulare tumor.
CT scan demonstrates a permeative destructive skull-base mass with involvement of the mastoid air cells

The best treatment is surgery. If the tumor is small, it is removed via a small incision in the ear canal. If the tumor is large, it is removed via an incision behind the ear. If the tumor is excessively large, the tumor may be subjected to radiation.