GammaKnife radiosurgery for Fisch-classified jugulotympanic paragangliomas: Review of the measures and timing of treatment success.

Jugulotympanic paraganglioma (JTPG), a benign slow-growing neoplasm in the skull base with a tendency to be locally invasive, poses a treatment challenge because of its proximity to nearby neurovascular structures. The authors describe 11 patents with 12 Fisch-classified JTPGs treated with GammaKnife radiosurgery (GKRS) during a 12-year period. The observed rates of subjective improvement and tumor control were 80% and 83%, respectively. Among the individuals living longer than 5 years, tumor growth developed at 77 and 180 months after radiosurgery in two patients. Treatment-related toxicity or radiation oncogenesis was not observed. GKRS seems to be a valid treatment option for all Fisch designated skull base glomus tumors. Life-long follow-up of these patients is necessary.