Endovascular Preoperative Embolization of Head and Neck Glomus Tumors: Patterns of Supply and Trends of Embolization

Background Head and neck glomus tumors (HNGT) exist in four types: caroticum (GC), vagale (GV), jugulare (GJ), and tympanicum (GT). Analysis of patterns of supply is essential for effective embolization. Objective To analyze the patterns in arterial feeders and the trends of preoperative embolization in HNGT. Methods Retrospective chart review for HNGT who underwent preoperative embolization. Results Twenty-three patients with HNGT were identified: GC (47.8%), GJ (30.4%), GV (13%), and GT (8.7%). Of the identified feeders, only 49.6% received preoperative embolization. The ascending pharyngeal artery was the most frequently identified (24%) and embolized (42%) feeder across tumor types. The second most common feeder for GV and GT is occipital, for GJ are occipital and posterior auricular, and for GC are superior thyroid and occipital arteries. Adequate embolization and favorable clinical outcomes were achieved in all the cases. Conclusion Understanding the patterns of HNGT blood supply and the trend for preoperative embolization is of paramount significance to the safety and efficacy of surgical resection of those lesions.