Jugular fossa masses

Changed by Mark Thurston, 5 Feb 2017

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Jugular fossa masses comprise a range of pathological lesions that arise from or extend into the jugular fossa in the skull base. Although not a common location for tumours it is not unusual for jugular fossa lesions to be discovered incidentally on cross sectional imaging.

Terminology

Although the jugular foramen is technically an anatomically distinct entity which connects the jugular fossa to the posterior fossa, both contain the same neurovascular structures and lesions present similarly. As the differential for lesions arising here are the same, for the purposes of this article the terms jugular fossa and jugular foramen will be used interchangeably.

Clinical presentation

Although the exact underlying pathology varies most jugular fossa tumours are slow growing and can cause symptoms by compressing the nerves that lie within the fossa. Symptoms can include:

When there is unilateral palsy of the 9th-11th cranial nerves this is termed as jugular foramen syndrome

However, the most common symptoms tend to arise from expansion into the middle ear:

Involvement of the inner ear can lead to vertigo and sensorineural hearing loss.

Symptoms of raised intracranial compression can develop if there is significant intracranial extension of the underlying tumour. 

Pathology

The most common lesion seen involving the jugular fossa is a glomus jugulare paraganglioma followed by schwannomas and meningiomas.2

Classification

Jugular fossa masses can broadly be classified as extrinsic or intrinsic. Occasionally, pseudotumours can arise as a result of:

  • CSF leak due to trauma
  • jugular bulb flow variation
Intrinsic

Intrinsic masses arise from the the structures that traverse the jugular fossa:

Extrinsic

Extrinsic masses arise from the surrounding tissues around the jugular fossa and extend into it:

Radiographic features

While contrast MRI better at defining the nature of jugular fossa lesions CT is superior in assessing any involvement of the adjacent bony structures.

  • -<li>weakness of the <a href="/articles/trapezius-muscle">trapezius</a> and stapedius muscles<ul><li>
  • +<li>weakness of the <a href="/articles/trapezius-muscle">trapezius</a> and <a title="Sternocleidomastoid" href="/articles/sternocleidomastoid-muscle">sternocleidomastoid</a> muscles<ul><li>
  • -</ul><p>When there is unilateral palsy of the 9<sup>th</sup>-11<sup>th</sup> cranial nerves this is termed as <a href="/articles/vernet-syndrome">jugular foramen syndrome</a>. </p><p>However, the most common symptoms tend to arise from expansion into the <a title="Middle ear" href="/articles/middle-ear">middle ear</a>:</p><ul>
  • -<li><a title="Conductive hearing loss" href="/articles/conductive-hearing-loss">conductive hearing loss</a></li>
  • +</ul><p>When there is unilateral palsy of the 9<sup>th</sup>-11<sup>th</sup> cranial nerves this is termed as <a href="/articles/vernet-syndrome">jugular foramen syndrome</a>. </p><p>However, the most common symptoms tend to arise from expansion into the <a href="/articles/middle-ear">middle ear</a>:</p><ul>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/conductive-hearing-loss">conductive hearing loss</a></li>
  • -<a title="Pulsatile tinnitus" href="/articles/pulsatile-tinnitus">pulsatile tinnitus</a> (due to tumour vascularity)</li>
  • -</ul><p>Involvement of the inner ear can lead to vertigo and <a title="Sensorineural hearing loss" href="/articles/sensorineural-hearing-loss">sensorineural hearing loss</a>.</p><p>Symptoms of raised intracranial compression can develop if there is significant intracranial extension of the underlying tumour. </p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>The most common lesion seen involving the jugular fossa is a <a href="/articles/glomus-jugulare-paraganglioma">glomus jugulare paraganglioma</a> followed by schwannomas and meningiomas.<sup>2</sup></p><h5>Classification</h5><p>Jugular fossa masses can broadly be classified as extrinsic or intrinsic. Occasionally, pseudotumours can arise as a result of:</p><ul>
  • +<a href="/articles/pulsatile-tinnitus">pulsatile tinnitus</a> (due to tumour vascularity)</li>
  • +</ul><p>Involvement of the inner ear can lead to vertigo and <a href="/articles/sensorineural-hearing-loss">sensorineural hearing loss</a>.</p><p>Symptoms of raised intracranial compression can develop if there is significant intracranial extension of the underlying tumour. </p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>The most common lesion seen involving the jugular fossa is a <a href="/articles/glomus-jugulare-paraganglioma">glomus jugulare paraganglioma</a> followed by schwannomas and meningiomas.<sup>2</sup></p><h5>Classification</h5><p>Jugular fossa masses can broadly be classified as extrinsic or intrinsic. Occasionally, pseudotumours can arise as a result of:</p><ul>
  • -<li><a href="/articles/chondrosarcoma-of-the-base-of-skull">chondrosarcomas</a></li>
  • +<li><a href="/articles/chondrosarcoma-of-the-skull-base">chondrosarcomas</a></li>

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