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CAROTID BODY TUMOURS
Author(s) -
Connell John
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.111
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 0004-8682
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.1977.tb04334.x
Subject(s) - medicine , malignancy , carotid body , carotid arteries , radiology , biopsy , metastasis , internal carotid artery , surgery , cancer , pathology
Carotid body tumours are rare, but important. Their reputation for slow growth and virtual non‐malignancy has had, in the light of experience, to be revised. Sudden spurts of growth are well known, and the tumour may become irremovable in a relatively short time. Aggressive local invasion and widespread metastasis are now well recognized. Histological features are no guide to malignancy. These tumours can nearly all be removed with an acceptable mortality and morbidity, without damage to the internal carotid artery. Ideally the diagnosis should be made by clinical acumen and confirmatory X‐ray examination. Biopsy makes subsequent removal of the tumour much more difficult, and should be avoided if at all possible. Eleven personal cases of carotid body tumours are reported, and the technique of surgical excision is discussed in detail.