Glomus tumors of the temporal bone: contemporary evaluation and therapy.

Surgical management of glomus tumors of the temporal bone requires accurate preoperative assessment and a knowledge of temporal bone anatomy, contemporary microsurgical techniques, and appropriate postoperative management. Care should be exercised to minimize postoperative neurologic deficit and deformity resulting from surgery of this usually benign lesion. The primary preoperative goal is to determine the extent of the lesion; although the history and physical examination are helpful, radiologic delineation of the tumor is imperative. Recent advances in surgical approaches and techniques have allowed the removal of larger tumors with lessened mortality and morbidity. Our overall experience in this series of glomus tumors leads us to believe that surgical excision is the treatment of choice for the treatment of glomus tumors of the temporal bone.