Differentiating imaging findings in primary and secondary tumors of the jugular foramen.

Abstract

The preoperative diagnosis of a jugular foramen tumor may be challenging, since a large variety of unusual lesions may be located in this region. These tumors may be classified as primary lesions (which are located in the jugular foramen or extend from the jugular foramen into the surrounding structures) and as secondary lesions (that extend from the surrounding structures into the jugular foramen). Primary tumors include glomus jugulare tumors, schwannomas, meningiomas and peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors, while secondary tumors comprise chordomas, chondrosarcomas, chondroblastomas, giant-cell tumors, cholesterol granulomas, giant cholesterol cyst, endolymphatic sac tumors, reactive myofibroblastic tumors, temporal bone carcinomas and metastases. Accurate preoperative radiological suspicion is of great value for preoperative patient counseling and has a direct impact on the surgical planning in these cases. The present study describes and discusses the main differentiating imaging features of lesions involving the jugular foramen, whose accurate preoperative radiological evaluation is essential for proper surgical planning.

• Authors: Hubert Löwenheim, Andrei Koerbel, Florian H Ebner, Hidetaka Kumagami, Ulrike Ernemann, Marcos Tatagiba
• Journal: Neurosurgical review (Neurosurg Rev) Vol. 29 Issue 1 Pg. 1-11; discussion 12-13 (Jan 2006) ISSN: 0344-5607 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 16283211 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Topics

• Brain Neoplasms (diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, pathology, secondary)
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Glomus Jugulare Tumor (diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Neoplasm Invasiveness
• Neurosurgical Procedures
• Occipital Bone
• Skull Base Neoplasms (diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Skull Neoplasms (diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, pathology, secondary)
• Temporal Bone
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed