title: Head and neck paragangliomas.
abstract: Head and neck paragangliomas (HNPGL) are rare, slowly growing tumours, presenting as a painless mass in the neck. Multiple genetic mutations are associated with HNPGL; screening can have an important role in patients of a young age and/or with a positive family history and/or malignant HNPGL. The choice of treatment should be made individually, based on the patient's condition, the risk of complications and the aim of therapy. Observation can be a logical choice given the low incidence of malignancy. In the case of intervention, surgery and radiotherapy show comparable results for local control. For definitive eradication, surgery would be the treatment of choice, involving however high risks of complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Amstelland Hospital, Amstelveen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Werter
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rustemeijer
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002345:Carotid Body Tumor / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler