[Sonographic diagnosis of carotid body tumor].
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the features of gray scale and colour Doppler sonography for carotid body tumor, to improve the sonographic diagnostic accuracy.


METHODS
A retrospective review was performed of sonographic material of 18 carotid body tumors by gray scale sonography and 11 by colour Doppler sonography, with comparison with other diseases which are frequently misdiagnosed as carotid tumor.


RESULTS
Well-defined, even weakly hypoechoic masses were noted on gray scale ultrasonogram at the carotid bifurcation, commonly broadening the carotid bifurcation and often encasing the common, external and internal carotid arteries. Disorderly non-echoic channel- like structures in the tumor were sometimes observed. Colour Doppler sonography showed abundant flow in the tumor. The non-echoic channel- like structures were vascularities. Seventeen masses diagnosed by ultrasound were proved to be carotid body tumors. The other was confirmed as a neurogenic tumor, giving an accuracy rate of 94.4% for sonographic diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Sonographic examination of the carotid body tumor is highly accurate. It is safe and reliable.
Niu
Lijuan
L
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Cancer institute (Hospital), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
Hao
Yuzhi
Y
Zhou
Chunwu
C
Zhu
Li
L
Chen
Yu
Y
Wang
Yong
Y
Li
Honglin
H
Huang
Suli
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002345:Carotid Body Tumor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color