Paragangliomas of the neck
G. B. Bishop Jr, M. M. Urist, T. el Gammal, G. E. Peters and W. A. Maddox
Section of Surgical Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35294.
Between 1967 and 1990 inclusive, 28 patients with paragangliomas of the
neck were diagnosed at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Affiliated
Hospitals. There were 11 men and 17 women, whose ages ranged from 12 to 76
years (mean, 47 years). Tumor locations included the carotid bodies (19
cases), the vagus nerves (three), supraglottic larynx (two), the left
lateral pharyngeal wall (one), posterior to the right jugular vein (not
otherwise defined) (one), subcutaneous neck tissue (one), and a cervical
lymph node with unknown primary (one). Diagnostic workup included
angiography (23 cases) with preoperative embolization (three), computed
tomography (one), magnetic resonance imaging (two), and urinary
catecholamine assay (four). All 28 patients underwent resection of the
lesions. Cranial nerve damage occurred in 11 patients (39%). There were no
perioperative deaths or cerebrovascular accidents, although one of two
saphenous vein grafts became thrombotic after carotid body tumor resection.
