• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1023-1027
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• 1996

The carotid body is derived from both mesoderm and elements of the third branchial arch and neural crest ectoderm. It is located within the advaptitial layer of the posteromedial aspe t of the common carotid bifurcation. Tumors arising from this body were originally termed chemodectomas, but they actually arise from the paraganglionic cells and thereby should be classified as paragangliomas. Carotid body. tumors present as a painless, palpable mass over the carotid bifurcation region of the neck. The definitive study for diagnosis of carotid body tumors is selective bilateral cerebral arteriography. Current treatment of ca- rotid body tumors is primarily operative excision of the tumor with maintenance of the Integrity of carotid flow. Recently, the authors experienced two cases of carotid body tumor which were successfully treated by surgical excision. We report these cases with brief review of the literature.