Definition of Glomus jugulare tumor:

A glomus jugulare tumor is a tumor of a part of the temporal bone in the skull. This tumor can affect the ear, upper neck, base of the skull, and the surrounding blood vessels and nerves.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

A glomus jugulare tumor grows in the temporal bone of the skull, in an area called the jugular foramen. The jugular foramen is also where the jugular vein and several important nerves exit the skull.

This area contains glomus bodies, which are nerve fibers that normally respond to changes in body temperature or blood pressure.

These tumors usually occur later in life, around age 60 or 70, but they can appear at any age. The cause of a glomus jugulare tumor is unknown. Usually, there are no known risk factors. Glomus tumors have been associated with changes (mutations) in a gene responsible for the enzyme succinate dehydrogenase (SDHD).