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Extracranial glomus faciale tumour

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2007

S E J Connor*
Affiliation:
Neuroradiology Department, Kings College Hospital, London, UK
M J Gleeson
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
E Odell
Affiliation:
Department of Oral Pathology, GKT Dental Institute, Guy's Tower, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Dr S E J Connor, Neuroradiology Department, Ruskin Wing, Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS, UK Fax: 44 207 346 3120 E-mail: sejconnor@tiscali.co.uk

Abstract

Objectives:

To describe a unique presentation of a predominantly extracranial glomus faciale tumour. To discuss the role of imaging in the differential diagnosis and evaluation of a hypervascular parotid mass. To review the previous literature concerning the glomus faciale tumour.

Case report:

A 54-year-old woman presented with a six-month history of facial weakness, pain and a parotid mass. Ultrasound revealed a hypervascular parotid mass and pre-operative core biopsy suggested a paraganglioma. Computed tomography defined its deep extent and demonstrated involvement of the petrous temporal bone along the descending portion of the facial nerve canal with a pattern of permeative lucency. A tumour was surgically removed which arose from the facial nerve from the second genu to the proximal divisions within the parotid gland and histology confirmed a paraganglioma.

Conclusions:

A facial nerve glomus faciale tumour should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a hypervascular parotid mass and may present in a predominantly extracranial location. Computed tomography will prove helpful in such a case in order to limit the differential diagnosis and to define the extent of skull base involvement.

Type
Clinical Record
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2007

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