COLOR DOPPLER IMAGING OF PARAGANGLIOMAS IN THE NECK

Purpose. In this study, we describe the color Doppler imaging findings in carotid body tumors and vagal body tumors. Methods. B-mode and col or Doppler imaging were performed on 17 patients who had a total of 25 previously diagnosed paragangliomas (14 carotid body tumors and 11 va gal body tumors). Results. Nineteen of 25 tumors were depicted. Five s mall vagal body tumors in the region of the nodose ganglion and 1 caro tid body tumor could not be depicted. With B-mode imaging, paraganglio mas appeared as well-defined, solid, hypoechoic masses. With color Dop pler imaging, hypervascularity with a low-resistance flow pattern was demonstrated in all but 1 of the 19 tumors. Conclusions. The use of co lor Doppler imaging in the workup of an ambiguous neck mass is advocat ed. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.