[Sonographic diagnosis of carotid body tumor]

Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Cancer institute (Hospital), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.

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. CONCLUSION: Sonographic examination of the carotid body tumor is highly accurate. It is safe and reliable.

PMID: 12485506 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]