Radiation therapy is another way to manage these lesions. Radiation is not known to cause actual killing of tumor cells but rather induces fibrous tissue proliferation around tumor cells in hopes of preventing further growth. There are a number of disadvantages to radiation therapy. First tumor growth can occur even after having radiation treatment. Surgery becomes more complicated if previous radiation has been used.
Radiation causes the loss of the dissection plane between the tumor and surrounding nerves.
Consequently, dissection within this plane may increase the chances of nerve injury. Healing from surgery is also impaired when previous radiation has been given. Radiation has also been known to change a benign glomus tumor into a malignant tumor. Radiation therapy may also cause other tumors to occur within the radiated site. For these reasons I recommend radiation therapy when a patient has an actively growing tumor and can not tolerate general anesthesia.