Chemodectoma of the Vagus Nerve

Carotid Body Tumors – Idiosyncracies

“…Similar nests of cells which make up the carotid body are found in the orbit, in the region of the jugular bulb, the middle ear or tympanic membrane region, the ganglion nodosum of the vagus cranial nerve [11], and in the adventitia of the aorta, at the aortic arch, or within the walls of the innominate and pulmonary arteries. The latter group comprises the so-called aortic bodies and similar tissue has been noted on the abdominal aorta and on the lung surfaces.…”

“…Another patient had a tumor of the ganglion nodosum of the vagus. This location is probably more frequent than commonly supposed [11]. In the two patients with tumors at this site, it was necessary to remove the vagus nerve with the resection.…”

“…Certainly, it may be assumed that a well performed angiogram would help delineate and possibly define a site of origin and explain the etiology of such tumors. The literature has numerous reports, mostly in journals of radiology [2,7,[10][11][12][13]17], regarding this technique. Nonetheless, the diagnostic conclusions following arteriography usually describe an extremely vascular tumor whose blood supply was predominantly from the external carotid artery, but specific details as to the site of origin or the type of tumor involved are frequently, and understandably, lacking.…”

“…Tumors of similar histologic type involving the ganglion nodosum are not unusual [11], but unfortunately, despite their benign nature, make preservation ot the vagus nerve difficult when resected. In this series, preoperatively, no nerve involvement was clinically evident.…”

Bilateral chemodectoma in the neck

“…As in the present case, tumours may be found elsewhere in the chemoreceptor system (Hawkins, 1961) Tumours arising from the cervical portion of the vagus nerve are much less common. Kircher (1967) found 26 cases and added one further case of his own. They typically occur at a higher level in the neck, often behind the angle of the mandible.…”