Paragangliomas of the neck

Between 1967 and 1990 inclusive, 28 patients with paragangliomas of the neck were diagnosed at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Affiliated Hospitals. There were 11 men and 17 women, whose ages ranged from 12 to 76 years (mean, 47 years). Tumor locations included the carotid bodies (19 cases), the vagus nerves (three), supraglottic larynx (two), the left lateral pharyngeal wall (one), posterior to the right jugular vein (not otherwise defined) (one), subcutaneous neck tissue (one), and a cervical lymph node with unknown primary (one). Diagnostic workup included angiography (23 cases) with preoperative embolization (three), computed tomography (one), magnetic resonance imaging (two), and urinary catecholamine assay (four). All 28 patients underwent resection of the lesions. Cranial nerve damage occurred in 11 patients (39%). There were no perioperative deaths or cerebrovascular accidents, although one of two saphenous vein grafts became thrombotic after carotid body tumor resection.