Resection of high-cervical paraganglioma with cervical-to-petrous internal carotid artery saphenous vein bypass

Two patients with large high-cervical paragangliomas were treated with radical resection and placement of a cervical-to-petrous internal carotid artery saphenous vein bypass. The high-cervical and infratemporal segments of the internal carotid artery engulfed within the tumor were resected and successfully replaced with a saphenous vein interposition graft. The postoperative course was uneventful in both cases and follow-up angiography revealed satisfactory reconstruction of the high-cervical and infratemporal skull base carotid artery. The operative technique, indications, and potential future applications of this newly developed skull base bypass procedure are discussed.