Chemodectoma

Since Von Haller1described the carotid body in 1743, nonchromaffin paragangliomas have been discussed frequently in the surgical literature. The term chemodectoma derives from the Greek words χημεία, an infusion, and δέχεςθαΙ to receive, and −ωμα, tumor, and was so named by Mulligan2in 1950. Synonyms for this interesting tumor which arises in the chemoreceptor system in various locations of the body are: receptoma, nonchromaffin paraganglioma, and carotid body-like tumor. These tumors may be found anywhere the scattered structures of neural, epithelial, and vascular components known as the chemoreceptor system are located but most frequently are encountered in the neck arising from the carotid body, over 400 tumors in this region having been reported. Over 100 have been reported to arise in the glomerula jugulare located in the adventitia of the jugular bulb. They have been encountered along the auricular branch of the vagus nerve, the tympanic branch