Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
World J Clin Cases. May 6, 2026; 14(13): 117852
Published online May 6, 2026. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v14.i13.117852
Published online May 6, 2026. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v14.i13.117852
Atypical jugulotympanic paraganglioma presentation, diagnostic challenges, and role of imaging: A case report
Harshil Patel, Whinsky Ujima, Department of Medical Physiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
Yonnah Okuna, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Nairobi, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
Author contributions: Patel H, Okuna Y, and Ujima W contributed to manuscript writing and editing, and data collection; all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Informed consent statement: Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest to disclose.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Corresponding author: Harshil Patel, MD, Department of Medical Physiology, University of Nairobi, Upper Hill, Nairobi 00100, Kenya. harshilpatel@students.uonbi.ac.ke
Received: January 4, 2026
Revised: February 14, 2026
Accepted: March 25, 2026
Published online: May 6, 2026
Processing time: 127 Days and 1.7 Hours
Revised: February 14, 2026
Accepted: March 25, 2026
Published online: May 6, 2026
Processing time: 127 Days and 1.7 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Jugular paragangliomas are rare skull base tumors that typically present with pulsatile tinnitus and lower cranial nerve palsies. This case highlights an atypical presentation marked by non-pulsatile tinnitus, sensorineural hearing loss, and isolated facial nerve involvement, leading to delayed diagnosis and intracranial extension. The report emphasizes the limitations of symptom-based diagnosis and underscores the critical role of early contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in patients with unilateral, progressive otologic symptoms to enable timely diagnosis and improved clinical outcomes.