Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

Glomus jugulare tumors (Paraganglioma) are very slowly growing tumors; arise from non-chromaffin paraganglionic tissue situated in close relationship to the middle ear. It may originate from Glomus bodies in the adventitia of the dome of the jugular bulb (Glomus Jugulare). The ganglionic tissue of glomus bodies is derived from the neural crest and is widely distributed in the autonomic nervous system. Guild (1953) discovered the presence of glomus ganglionic tissue within the temporal bone, in close relation to the jugular bulb in 50%, and on the mucosa of the promontory of the middle ear 25%. (1) Rosenwasser (1945) was the first surgeon to recognize the relationship between these tumors and the normal glomus jugulare. (2) These tumors have well defined thin fibrous capsule. Histological examination shows similar