September 30, 2026
A carotid body tumor (also known as a chemodectoma or paraganglioma) is a rare, typically non-cancerous growth that develops at the carotid bifurcation—the fork in the neck where the common carotid artery divides into the internal and external carotid arteries.
These tumors originate from specialized chemoreceptor cells that monitor blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. Because of their anatomical location, carotid body tumors encase critical neck arteries and cranial nerves as they expand, presenting complex surgical challenges.
Carotid body tumors are among the most vascular lesions in the human body. Fed by multiple vessel branches—primarily from the external carotid artery—they form dense, high-pressure arterial networks.
As the tumor grows, it pushes the internal and external carotid arteries apart (a classic sign known as the “Lyre sign” on diagnostic imaging) and compresses adjacent cranial nerves, including:
Operating directly on a highly vascular tumor without prior intervention carries high risks of significant blood loss and inadvertent nerve damage.
To minimize surgical risks, neurovascular teams utilize a combined endovascular and surgical approach. 24 to 48 hours prior to open surgical resection, the patient undergoes preoperative neuroendovascular embolization.
Following successful embolization, the neurosurgical team performs open surgical excision. With blood loss dramatically reduced, surgeons can clearly visualize, separate, and preserve the internal carotid artery and surrounding cranial nerves, maximizing surgical safety and patient recovery.