Based on a review of 25 cases of tympanic and jugular paragangliomas treated and followed up in the Lariboisière hospital, Paris between 1978 and 1986, clinical aspects and extension of these tumors are studied. The often long delay in making the diagnosis is related to lack of knowledge of presenting symptomatology, frequent discordance between functional and physical symptomatology exists, but remarkable progress has been made in assessment of extension of tumors using new imaging techniques, particularly angiography, which can also guide the preoperative embolization and surgical procedures.