Carotid body tumor

Abstract EN

Background :- carotid body tumors is an uncommon disease entity in Iraq , presented with painless swelling below the angle of the mandible, and is usually benign.

The author reviews his personal surgical challenge with eight cases having had this tumor during twelve years period.

Patients and Methods :- eight patients with carotid body tumors were managed during twelve years period (1994-2005) in the Thoracic and Vascular Department of the Medical City Teaching Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq.

Results :- these patients were retrospectively studied as regard their age, gender, clinical features, diagnostic methods, operative findings, surgical techniques and postoperative outcome.

Conclusion :- early presentation and surgical intervention limit the number of inoperable patients thus avoiding local invasion and malignant changes and leading to fruitful surgical results.