The main goal of this project is to improve healthcare for patients with paragangliomas tumors in the head and neck region. Both the Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf and the Radboudumc in Nijmegen are known as leading centers for the treatment of patients with glomus tumors. Nevertheless, there can be great discrepancy in the treatment method that patients undergo because there are uncertainties about the best treatment strategy.
Paragangliomas in the head and neck region are tumors that grow around important structures such as nerves and arteries, this makes treatment of these tumors difficult. Even though the tumors are usually benign, patients can experience a lot of discomfort from these tumors. Symptoms and complaints range from headaches, tinnitus, hearing loss, difficulty swallowing to facial paralysis. Given the rarity of this condition, it is crucial to cooperate in the border region and learn from each other’s experiences. The goal is to develop the most effective treatment strategy. To promote this quality improvement, staff exchange will take place between the two clinics. In addition, treatment results will be compared by sharing treatment outcomes in the participating centers. Various meetings will discuss the most desirable treatment. We will also look in detail at the aftercare that patients receive, and determine what is most valued by patients in order to optimize aftercare in the border region. This includes the goal of improving patients’ quality of life.
In essence, this project aims to strengthen cooperation between leading medical centers, share knowledge and experience, and develop an optimized treatment and aftercare strategy for patients with paragangliomas, with the ultimate goal of improving their quality of life.
