We reviewed the literature concerning curative treatment for chemodectomas of the temporal bone. Local control and complication rates were calculated from the published series for three therapeutic approaches: Surgery alone, radiation before or after surgery, and radiation alone. The local control rates were similar, 86%, 90%, and 93% respectively. Patients suffered a high rate of treatment-related morbidity following surgical excision of glomus jugulare lesions. Serious sequelae from radiation therapy were rare. We feel radiation therapy should be considered as primary treatment for glomus jugulare tumors.