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Updated: Jul 31, 2026

A Model for Perineural Invasion in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: January 5, 2017
Carotid body tumors, inheritance, and a high incidence of associated cervical paragangliomas
P Gardner1, M Dalsing, E Weisberger
1Department of Surgery, Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis 46202, USA.
Background:
Current experience with carotid body tumors suggesting a high prevalence of associated cervical paragangliomas prompted this review.
Patients And Methods:
An 8-year retrospective study of patients with carotid body tumors was undertaken, detailing presentation, diagnosis, and treatment.
Results:
Eleven patients harboring 17 carotid body tumors were discovered. All patients had a neck mass. Seven patients (64%) had bilateral carotid body tumors. Six (55%) reported a positive family history-4 were first-generation relatives, 5 had bilateral tumors, and 3 had other head and neck paragangliomas. Angiography documented 4 associated vagal and 2 glomus jugulare paragangliomas in addition to the carotid body tumors. Precise surgical care limited blood loss to an average of 590 cc. The carotid artery was repaired during 5 resections (29%). Cranial nerve injury occurred in 3 cases, all following vagal body or glomus jugulare resection. Every patient is currently alive, stroke free, and functioning without major disability.
Conclusions:
Patients with carotid body tumors have a propensity for multiple head and neck paragangliomas. Angiography is diagnostic. The need for associated paraganglioma resection dramatically increases the risk of cranial nerve injury.
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