Color Doppler imaging of paragangliomas in the neck.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, we describe the color Doppler imaging findings in carotid body tumors and vagal body tumors.


METHODS
B-mode and color Doppler imaging were performed on 17 patients who had a total of 25 previously diagnosed paragangliomas (14 carotid body tumors and 11 vagal body tumors).


RESULTS
Nineteen of 25 tumors were depicted. Five small vagal body tumors in the region of the nodose ganglion and 1 carotid body tumor could not be depicted. With B-mode imaging, paragangliomas appeared as well-defined, solid, hypoechoic masses. With color Doppler imaging, hypervascularity with a low-resistance flow pattern was demonstrated in all but 1 of the 19 tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of color Doppler imaging in the workup of an ambiguous neck mass is advocated.
Jansen
J C
JC
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Leiden, The Netherlands.
Baatenburg de Jong
R J
RJ
Schipper
J
J
van der Mey
A G
AG
van Gils
A P
AP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001016:Aortic Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002345:Carotid Body Tumor / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010236:Paraganglioma, Extra-Adrenal / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color