Bilateral carotid body tumors managed with preoperative embolization: a case report and review

A patient with large bilateral carotid body tumors had preoperative, superselective embolization of major arterial afferent vessels. After marked reduction in tumor vascularity, total surgical extirpation was then possible without significant morbidity or carotid sacrifice. The use of preoperative embolization in the treatment of large bilateral lesions is emphasized and discussed.