ABSTRACT
Vascular surgeons will rarely encounter this treacherous neoplasm, but all should be familiar with its management. Carotid body tumors are rarely malignant, usually asymptomatic, and have generally been associated with substantive procedural complications. However, the low incidence of morbidity from small tumors, improved preliminary noninvasive diagnosis, and better appreciation for the tumor’s natural history now provide the basis for a rational surgical approach.
