抄録
A relatively rare case of chemodectoma of the glomus jugulare with multiple metastases is reported. Ten years ago, a 37-year-old male was seen because of dysphagia and a mass in the right retro-auricular region. The mass in the right jugular foramen was partially resected and irradiated. Histological examination revealed a chemodectoma. Five years thereafter the patient was readmitted with an epidural mass involving the left eighth cervical nerve root. One year later he developed a chest pain and lumbago. A bone scan revealed multiple skeletal metastases. Histologically, specimens from the right parietal bone and the right 10th rib showed a chemodectoma. He was again irradiated. He was again admitted with paraplegia, 9 years after the first admission. With repeated irradiation with a total dose of 16, 700 rads in 10 years, he died with cachexia and aspiration pneumonia at the age of 47. The autopsy revealed multiple metastases of chemodectoma to bone, spinal epidural space, lung, and pancreas. Although chemodectoma of the glomus jugulare is generally considered to be a rare benign tumor, slow metastatic spread to various organs is not uncommon. A careful search for metastatic lesions, possibly for years is essential when following up the patient.
