[Cervical paragangliomas. Results apropos of a series of 33 patients]

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