Glomus jugulare, an incidental finding

A case report in an older adult

Abstract

Introduction: a jugular glomus is a rare, slow-growing type of paraganglioma that may or may not produce catecholamines. It usually has insidious symptoms, mainly related to hearing loss and lower cranial nerve palsy. The diagnosis generally requires advanced imaging studies and, in some cases, histopathological confirmation. The usual treatment is surgical resection or radiosurgery.

Case presentation: while hospitalized for acute cholecystitis, a 75-year-old female patient experienced a hypertensive emergency with the brain as the target organ, along with a generalized seizure. The diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging incidentally revealed a jugular glomus. The physician opted to handle it with observation and periodic diagnostic imaging assessment, considering the patient’s advanced age and comorbidities, as well as the tumor characteristics.

Conclusion: observation is an appropriate alternative in adults over the age of 50 with small tumors and no nerve compression symptoms. These are clinical and risk-benefit arguments that justify a holistic and multidisciplinary approach.