clinical features
Last reviewed 01/2018
The characteristic features of glomus tumours are:
- tinnitus in time with the arterial pulse, conductive or sensorineural deafness
- facial paralysis
- cranial nerve palsies - IX to XII
- a vascular polyp may be seen in the external auditory meatus
- a palpable mass below and anterior to the mastoid eminence
- a bruit may be heard over the mass
Rarely with glomus tumours there may be:
- a phrenic nerve palsy
- facial numbness
- a Horner's syndrome
- cerebellar ataxia
- temporal lobe epilepsy if the tumour erodes the base of skull