Chemodectoma Flashcards
What is a chemodectoma
A tumour of the paraganglion cells of the carotid body
Located at the bifurcation of the common carotid artery
Usually benign (but locally invasive)
Occasionally they are malignant - with potential to metastasize to local lymph nodes
What are the features of a chemodectoma
In the anterior triangle of the neck
At the angle of the jaw
Usually the lump is solid and firm
Pulsatile but not expansile
The lump can be moved from side to side but not up and down - due to intimate relationship with carotid arteries
May be bilateral
Why might a chemodectoma be pulsatile
Transmitted pulsation from the adjacent carotid arteries
An overlying palpable external carotid artery
True expansile pulsation from a soft or very vascular tumour
What diagnostic investigations would you do for a suspected chemodectoma
Duplex ultrasound
Angiography - shows a hypervascular mass, displacing the bifurcation of the carotid arteries
CT/MRI - to delineate the extent of the tumour
How would you treat a chemodectoma
Surgical:
- Surgical excision
- Ultrasonic surgical dissection
Radiotherapy:
- For patients unfit for surgery
- For large tumours
