THE SAFE AND COMPLETE REMOVAL OF A CAROTID-BODY TUMOR WITH ELEMENTS SUGGESTIVE OF A MALIGNANT POTENTIAL BY EMPLOYING AN INTRALUMINAL SHUT -REPORT OF A CASE

The carotid body tumor is a relatively rare neoplasm arising from the intercarotid paraganglions. We report herein the case of a patient wit h a Shamblin group 2 type carotid body tumor for which safe and succes sful removal was facilitated by the insertion of an intraluminal shunt . The patient was a 54-year-old man who presented with a spherical ela stic mass, 4.8 x 3.7 cm in size, on the right anterior aspect of his n eck, which was diagnosed as a carotid body tumor by diagnostic imaging . Because the tumor was suspected to be malignant based on the operati ve findings, which included invasive adhesion to the carotid artery, a n intraluminal shunt was inserted, allowing for safe and complete remo val. Histologically, this tumor showed malignant potential with sporad ic mitoses and incomplete capsular invasion. Thus, it is recommended t hat an intraluminal shunt be employed for the removal of a carotid bod y tumor when it is found to be tightly adherent to the carotid artery during the operation.