Türkiye Yüksek İhtisas Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Kalp ve Damar Cerrahisi Kliniği, ANKARA

Carotid body tumours, rarely seen, are hypervascular lesions, originating from paraganglionic neural crest cells of carotid body localized at the bifurcation of the carotid artery. In this study, 3 patients admitted to our clinic with servical mass since 2000. Complete resection was performed to all tumoral masses however in one patient hypoglossal and glossopharyngeal nerves were also resected as it was not possible to dissect. No mortality and hemiplegia was seen, however one patient experienced dysphagia and hoarness postoperatively. In the follow-up period no recurrenses were observed. Carotid body tumours should be in the armamentorium of a cardiovascular surgeon when a patient with servical mass admits to outpatient clinic, and further examination should be done including doppler ultrasonography and angiography for differantial diagnosis, for eventual surgical resection.