Carotid body tumors: contribution of the various imaging techniques. A report of six cases
Zidi, A.; Bouaziz, N.; Mnif, N.; Kribi, L.; Kara, M.; Salah, M.; Ferjaoui, M.; Hamza, R.
Journal de Radiologie 81(9): 953-957
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0221-0363 PMID: 10992092 Document Number: 513895
Carotid body tumors are rare hypervascular lesions arising from neural crest paraganglion cells. We retrospectively analyzed the imaging features of six patients with carotid body tumors to precise their imaging characteristics in order to find specific signs and elaborate a strategy for diagnosis. Imaging features detect the vascular nature of these tumors of the carotid space causing characteristic widening of the carotid bifurcation. Two patients had multiple (two or more) localizations and one had a family history of glomus tumor. MRI with MRA is considered as the gold standard imaging technique for the evaluation of glomus tumors as it allows a multiplanar approach which is important in the preoperative study.