[An active endocrine glomus tumor (paraganglioma) as a cause of tinnitus and hypertension].

A glomus jugulare tumor arises from the glomus bodies located in the adventitia of the dome of the jugular bulb. A glomus tumor has the same microscopic appearance as a carotid body tumor. The present report includes the extraordinary clinical and morphological features of a catecholamine-secreting glomus tumor (paraganglioma) in a 41-year-old woman. The patient presented with uncontrollable hypertension und pulsatile tinnitus. The diagnostic and therapeutic management is reported, including MIBG scintigraphy, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, embolization, angiography, selective venous sampling studies and control of hypertension. After cardiovascular stabilization and tumor embolization, the tumor was removed surgically, with subsequent resolution of hypertension. While light microscopical analysis showed a classical glomus tumor, ultrastructural analysis revealed particular details of the tumor cells.