BACKGROUND Carotid body (CB) is a highly specialized paraganglion originating from the neural crest ectoderm. CB paraganglion can be caused either by a genetic predisposition (hereditary paraganglia) or by chronic hypoxic stimulation. Germline mutations in any of the following genes: SDHD, SDHC, SDHB, PGL2 or other unknown genes, can cause paragangliomas (PGLs). MATERIALS AND METHODS We studi...

OBJECTIVE There is no definitive consensus on the impact of preoperative embolization on carotid body paraganglioma management. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of preoperative embolization on carotid body paraganglioma excision. DATA SOURCES A systematic search was conducted without limits, and it included studies published on or before July 2013 from PubMed, CINAHL, Web o...

conclusions in patients with abdominal or pelvic masses and a history of previous abdominal surgery, the possibility of gossypiboma should be kept in mind. case presentation we report two patients (the first patient was 50 years old, with a history of an appendectomy three years ago in another city; the second patient was 52 years old, with a history of a cesarean section 25 years ago in anothe...

Ganglioneuromas are a very rare benign neural tumor, commonly derived from the ganglia of the sympathetic system, and are composed of mature Schwann cells, ganglion cells, and nerve fibres. They may arise anywhere from the base of the skull to the pelvis along the paravertebral sympathetic plexus. We report a rare case of synchronous ganglioneuroma and schwannoma, mistaken for carotid body tumo...

Carotid body tumors are an unusual cause of transient ischemic attacks. The cases reported in the literature have been limited to the postoperative period. We report a patient with bilateral carotid body tumors and transient ischemic attacks as the presenting syndrome. A low-perfusion state could explain his symptomatology.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) results from a structural compromise of the upper airway combined with decrease in muscle tone during sleep. Overt upper airway pathology is rare, however a variety of pharyngeal tumors have been well described as a cause of OSA. We describe a case of a mass originating in the carotid body resulting in severe OSA with hypersomnia resistant to positive pressure vent...

Fahad Hanif Khan1*, Kamal Muhammad Yousuf2 and Mishraz Shaikh3 1Department of General Surgery, Civil Hospital, Baba-e-Urdu Road, Karachi, Pakistan 2Department of Vascular Surgery, Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan 3Department of General Surgery, Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan *Corresponding author: Fahad Hanif Khan, Department of General Surgery, Civil Hospital, ...

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Carotid body tumors, or chemodectomas, are the most common head and neck paragangliomas, accounting for 80% of the cases. They may present minor symptoms; however, they deserve special attention in order to achieve accurate diagnosis and adequate treatment. The objectives of this study were to show the approach towards chemodectomas and evaluate the complications of the pa...