Carotid body tumors. Current diagnosis and treatment

Carotid body tumors are rare neoplasms arising from the small chemoreceptor organ in the adventitia of the common carotid bifurcation. Patients with c arotid body tumours usually present with a gradually enlarging non-tender a nterolateral neck mass. Differential diagnosis includes metastatic lymph no des, carotid artery aneurysm, salivary gland tumour, branchial cleft cyst, and neurogenic or thyroid tumours. When such a lesion is suspected, a non-invasive Doppler colour flow ultraso nography enables the clinician to arrive at a definite diagnosis. Subsequen t arteriography is mandatory, because the finding of an intensely blushing hypervascular mass spreading into the carotid bifurcation further supports the diagnosis and provides accurate preoperative information concerning art erial blood supply. Computed tomography scanning is appropriate to delineat e the relation of the tumour to adherent structures, while magnetic resonan ce tomography demonstrates the relation of the tumour to the adjacent inter nal jugular vein and the carotid artery. Selective embolization should be p erformed for safe surgical removal with less bleeding. Early surgery is the treatment of choice and is recommended in order to minimize major risks. S ubadventitial resection is the most established technique. Radical resectio n prevents local recurrence and has the best long-term results. Removal of the internal or common carotid arteries can become mandatory in selected ca ses of extensive disease. Surgical treatment by an experienced team is asso ciated with considerably low mortality and morbidity.