[Carotid body tumor: diagnosis and surgical treatment]

Carotid body tumors are rarely encountered and can present a difficult surgical problem. During the period of June 1988 to November 1992, 8 patients were operated on for carotid body tumors at PLA General Hospital. Details of the surgery, morbidity and outcome of these patients are presented. Our experience suggests that: 1) The presence of a pulsatile neck mass located in the region of carotid triangle, vertically fixed and laterally mobile, should raise the suspicion of a carotid body tumor; 2) Color Doppler flow imaging has a role to play in the diagnosis of carotid body tumor; 3) DSA is very important for a number of reasons, especially for the use of concomitant embolization; 4) Management of these tumours is primarily surgical; 5) The decision whether to resect the carotid artery or not can only be made intra-operatively based on status of the patient and tumor, there might be 4 surgical options open to the operators.