Duplex sonography of tumors of the carotid body

Five histologically confirmed tumors of the carotid body and seven lymph node metastases in the area of the carotid bifurcation were investigated with real-time sonography. In addition, 10 patients underwent measurements of intratumorous flow by way of a pulsed Doppler system. The typically hypervascular tumors of the carotid body revealed flow signals with standardized adjustment of Doppler sonography. The hypovascularized lymph node metastases did not demonstrate flow on Doppler sonography. In all patients, either preoperative angiography or enhanced computerized tomography was done and these studies confirmed the degree of vascularization of the mass as determined by Doppler sonography. Duplex sonography permitted noninvasive demonstration of hypervascular tumors in the area of the carotid bifurcation, a finding highly suggestive of nonchromaphil paraganglioma of the carotid body.