The carotid body tumor.

Six cases of carotid body tumor are the material for this report. The pathology and current thinking on physiology are reviewed. Diagnosis is made by angiography which must include both carotid systems. Ultrasound is the screening method of choice because it is safe, reliable, non-invasive, and inexpensive. Preoperative planning must consider the patient's medical condition and life expectancy as well as tumor size, blood supply, skull base erosion and condition of the carotid vessels. If surgery is undertaken, peri-adventitial dissection is advocated.