[Carotid body tumors: contribution of the various imaging techniques. A report of six cases].
BACKGROUND
Carotid body tumors are rare hypervascular lesions arising from neural crest paraganglion cells.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed the imaging features of six patients with carotid body tumors to precise their imaging characteristics in order to find specific signs and elaborate a strategy for diagnosis.


RESULTS
Imaging features detect the vascular nature of these tumors of the carotid space causing characteristic widening of the carotid bifurcation. Two patients had multiple (two or more) localizations and one had a family history of glomus tumor.


CONCLUSIONS
MRI with MRA is considered as the gold standard imaging technique for the evaluation of glomus tumors as it allows a multiplanar approach which is important in the preoperative study.
Zidi
A
A
Service d'Imagerie Médicale, Tunis, Tunisie.
Bouaziz
N
N
Mnif
N
N
Kribi
L
L
Kara
M
M
Salah
M
M
Ferjaoui
M
M
Hamza
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D002345:Carotid Body Tumor / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D005918:Glomus Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
D003287:Contrast Media