What we call them: the nomenclature of head and neck paragangliomas

Keypoints • Historically, paragangliomas have been referred to by a number of different terms (‘glomus’ tumours of different sorts, ‘carotid body tumour’). • WHO classification (2005) refers to these tumours as paragangliomas, with further anatomical detail (‘vagal paraganglioma’, ‘carotid body paraganglioma’). • This system recognises the commonality between these tumours and aids understanding of their pathogenesis and clinical management.