OBJECTIVETo study the clinical features, diagnoses and operative intervention of carotid body tumors.

METHODSThe medical records of 26 patients with carotid body paragangliomas between 1993 and 2004 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTSTwo of twenty-six patients had bilateral tumors. One patient had malignant tumors with cervical lymph nodes metastases. Twenty-one patients were evaluated with a preoperative angiography. No preoperative embolization was performed. Eleven patients underwent ultrasonography, nine had CT scan of the neck, five had magnetic resonance imaging. Twenty-six patients were all operated. Vascular reconstruction was performed in five cases. The ligation of carotid artery was carried out in four cases and another patient had vagus nerve resection. No death and recurrence occurred in all cases.

CONCLUSIONAngiography and ultrasonography are valuable in the diagnosis of carotid body tumor. Surgical removal should be made early to avoid the possibility of eventual metastasis and progressive local invasion. The pattern of operation should be chosed according to the relation of tumor and carotid.