Carotid body tumor is relatively rare neoplasm of the extra-adrenal paraganglion system. We have experienced two cases of carotid body tumors and successfully resected without any complication. Pre-operative intravascular embolization of the major arterial feeders was used. The cases and literatures were briefly reviewed.
Carotid Body Tumor ; Carotid Body

Carotid body tumor is uncommon and has been a source of fear and curiosity to the surgeon for many years. This puzzling tumor attaches itself so intimately to the carotid artery system that its routine removal is often associated with serious consequences. The justification for its extirpation has been debated vigorously. Recently, we have experienced a case of carotid body tumor and obtained good result after total removal. We report our case with a brief review of the articles.
Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Body Tumor* ; Carotid Body* ; Exploratory Behavior

Surgical resection is the only option for the treatment of carotid body tumor. The tumor is characterized by its hypervascularity and adherence to the carotid artery. Neurovascular injuries have been a well known surgical complication during the procedure. We experienced a case of carotid artery injury during the resection of carotid body tumor and which was reconstructed with interposition graft using autogenous vein. Vascular injury as a complication during the resection of carotid body tumor was reviewed.
Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery Injuries ; Carotid Body Tumor ; Carotid Body ; Transplants ; Vascular System Injuries ; Veins

Carotid Body Tumor ; genetics ; Humans ; Paraganglioma ; genetics

Carotid Body Tumor ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male

Carotid Body Tumor ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans

Carotid Body Tumor ; surgery ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Pressoreceptors

A 33-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a slow-growing mass in the left side of her neck. The mass was found to be a huge (73 x 56 x 54 mm) carotid body paraganglioma. Another 21 mm-size tumor was incidentally detected at the right carotid bifurcation. She had hoarseness and Horner's syndrome of her left side. Both tumors were surgically removed. There were no cerebrovascular complications but some neurologic complications occurred when the left tumor was removed.
Adult ; Carotid Body ; Carotid Body Tumor ; Female ; Hoarseness ; Horner Syndrome ; Humans ; Neck

Carotid body tumor is a manifestation of paraganglioma, a systemic disease, in the head and neck region. Bilateral presentation is rare, and it may or may not be functional. In symptomatic cases, it is important to evaluate the patient thoroughly through the whole body for the causative lesion. We experienced an unusual patient who had a history of resection for a carotid body tumor presenting with fluctuating hypertension. Work up revealed contralateral carotid body tumor and increased levels of catecholamine. He underwent resection of the contralateral carotid body tumor, but his symptoms persisted. Further studies led to detection of extraadrenal retroperitoneal paraganglioma with liver infiltration, for which he had an operation. His hypertension and catecholamine levels returned to normal.
Carotid Body Tumor* ; Carotid Body* ; Head ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Liver ; Neck ; Paraganglioma*

Paragangliomas are rare and slowly growing pulsating hypervascular tumors arising from neural crest cell derivatives throughout the body. In the head and neck, they originate from the branchiometric family of paraganglioma, neuroendocrine tissue that lies along the carotid artery or aorta. Despite their propensity for locally aggressive behavior, metastases of the tumors are quite rare. We report an unusual case of carotid body paraganglioma showing multiple spinal metastases and demonstrated by spinal angiography.
Angiography ; Aorta ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Body Tumor* ; Carotid Body* ; Head ; Humans ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Neural Crest ; Paraganglioma