J Korean Soc Plast Reconstr Surg.
2001 Jan;28(1):70-74.
Giant Carotid Body Tumor in Neck: A Case Report
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hallym University, College of Medicine.
- 2Department of Radiology, Hallym University, College of Medicine.
Abstract
- A carotid body tumor, also known as a paraganglioma in neck, originates from cells of neural crest tissue and arises at the carotid bifurcation. Carotid body tumors may present at any age and do not occur more frequently in either sex. A 39-year-old woman visited our hospital with a mass on the left side of her neck. She had first noticed the mass 20 years ago, and it has rapidly grown recently, especially in last two years. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a large solid mass with marked posterior and superior extensions splaying at the carotid bifurcation. In addition, carotid arteriography revealed a solid vascular mass in the carotid bifurcation and many feeding vessels from large adjacent arteries. Under the fluoroscopy control, PVA particles and coils were used for embolization. On completion, angiogram demonstrated as approximately 80% reduction in tumor vascularity with obliteration of most of the afferent tumor vessels. Thereafter, the patient underwent surgery under general anesthesia. An incision was made along the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the carotid sheath was opened. The tumor was carefully dissected from the common carotid, external carotid, and then the internal carotid arteries which has close adherence of the sheath to the tumor. The internal jugular, facial veins, spinal accessory nerves and branches of vagus nerve were sacrificed. On gross finding, the tumor was a well encapsulated soft tumor mass measuring 12 x 9 x 6 cm in size and completely surrounded by a fibrous capsule. The patient was discharged 21days after the operation with satisfactory result and no specific neurologic deficit.
