[Tumors of the glomus caroticum].

From 1952 to 1982 15 patients (6 male, 9 female) with 20 carotid body tumors have been treated in the surgical departments of the universities of Berlin and Heidelberg. A recurrent tumor occurred in 3 patients, in one case appeared a further recurrence. Two patients presented with a tumor of the glomus jugulare as well as the tumors of the carotid body and with a familial accumulation. While still in the 60's the surgical procedure was in doubt due to high complications and lethality rates today, because of the progress in carotid surgery with the insertion of an intraluminal shunt, the operation is recommended without risk. An important part plays a certain preoperative diagnosis through the B-mode sonography for the operative strategy.