CERVICAL PARAGANGLIOMAS - RESULTS FROM A SERIES OF 33 CASES

During the period 1971-1993, 33 patients were treated for cervical che modectomas, 41 tumors were diagnosed. Seven patients had multicentric tumors. All patients expect one with bilateral carotid tumor were trea ted surgically. A carotid resection was performed in 4 patients. Six p atients were given radiation therapy : five patient after surgery and one treated by irradiation alone. During the follow-up period one pati ent died of bone metastasis 6 year after a partial surgery and radiati on therapy, and one had local recurrence treated with irradiation. The surgical management is the major treatment of these tumlrs, it reveal ed no postoperative cerebrovascular accident and limited complications secondary to unavoidable nerves sacrifice. Radiation therapy is perfo rmed only on particular cases : surgery contra-indications and nonradi cal resection.