[Combined embolization and surgery of paragangliomas of the glomus caroticum. Report of a case and review of literature].

Carotid body paragangliomas are rare, and are generally benign tumours that grow slowly. Extirpation of carotid body paragangliomas is well documented as the best curative treatment, but can be accompanied by complications such as peroperative bleeding, stroke and injury to cranial nerves. Accurate preoperative diagnosis and evaluation are important, and preoperative carotide angiography is essential to confirm the diagnosis. In this case report, a patient with large carotid body paraganglioma underwent preoperative selective embolization of the major afferent arteries. The vascularity of the paraganglioma was reduced substantially, and complete extirpation was accomplished without complications. Blood loss was negligible and the postoperative course was uneventful. The patient had no cranial nerve or cerebral dysfunction after operation. In cases with angiographically distinct feeding arteries, in addition to satisfactory cerebral perfusion, preoperative selective embolization can be an important supplementary treatment.