II. Epidemiology

  1. Most common in 40 to 50 year old women

III. Pathophysiology

  1. Neuroendocrine tumor arising from from glomus bodies
    1. Jugular bulb origin or
    2. Middle ear neural plexus
  2. Tympanic Membrane invasion follows Hearing Loss
  3. May involve Cranial Nerves

IV. Symptoms

V. Signs

  1. Dark blue, purple or red-blue mass behind TM

VI. Diagnosis

VII. Differential Diagnosis

  1. Anomalous Carotid Artery
  2. Anomalous jugular bulb

VIII. Management

  1. Do not biopsy (very vascular)
  2. Surgical excision

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