Radiotherapy of paragangliomas

From 1964 to 1980 28 patients with extensive paragangliomas were treated with radiation therapy. Nine patients had a carotid body tumour and 19 had a temporal bone tumour. During the 16 year period the radiation dose was gradually reduced from 60 Gy in 6 weeks to 40 Gy in 4 weeks. Continuous tumour control was achieved in all patients (follow-up 1.5-18 years) with no difference between glomus caroticum tumours and glomus tympanicum tumours, and complications were few, certainly when 40-50 Gy was given in 4-5 weeks.