Clinical data and tumor specimens from 63 patients were investigated, and included 22 glomus caroticum tumors and 41 tumors of the tympano-jugulare region. All specimens could be differentiated by their histological growth patterns into four categories. The clinical data revealed that 45% of the female patients with paragangliomas suffered from goitre, one of whom died in thyrotoxic crisis after surgery. Two patients died from sequelae of other serious diseases. In general, postoperative morbidity was solely caused by cranial nerve palsies depending on tumor extent. From the data presented, a conclusion is drawn that serious concurrent diseases are the limiting factor for surgery. Early detection is the best way to reduce postoperative morbidity if total removal of the tumor is required.