Tumors of the carotid body. Experience with 41 operative cases.

Evaluation of a patient with a carotid body tumor requires a complete head and neck examination with special attention to the cranial nerves and careful search for additional paragangliomas in other sites. Angiography is very helpful in making the diagnosis and assessing the ipsilateral and contralateral carotid artery. Surgery should be performed early, since group I tumors are easily excised and are associated with a low surgical morbidity. Surgical excision shoud be performed by head and neck and vascular surgeons applying shunting or reconstructive techniques when appropriate. With improved diagnostic and surgical techniques, the morbidity and mortality should continue to approach zero.