Glomus jugulare tumor presenting as mastoiditis in a patient with familial paraganglioma syndrome: A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Glomus jugulare paragangliomas (PGLs) are rare, slow-growing, hypervascular lesions that represent a type of extra-adrenal PGL, originating within the wall of jugular bulb. We report the first case of a 59-year-old woman with hereditary PGL syndrome, who was initially diagnosed with mastoiditis as the only radiological finding of an evolving jugular foramen PGL. Mastoiditis can be the presenting symptom of a jugular PGL due to eustachian tube dysfunction. High index of clinical suspicion is important before initiating treatment for mastoiditis in patients with familial PGL syndromes, obviating the need for early work-up with magnetic resonance imaging.