Fine needle aspiration of carotid body tumor

Abstract

Carotid body tumors, (non-chromatin paragangliomas, chemodectomas) are rare tumors. Although uncommon, these neoplasm's should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of a neck mass. Few cases have been reported in the aspiration cytology literature. Fine needle aspiration biopsy smears from six cases of histologically verified carotid body tumor were reviewed. The fine needle aspirates in all cases were similar; abundant cells with round or oval nuclei and marked anisokaryosis with a tendency to form acini or follicular structures. Though the vascularity may vary in different parts of the tumor, there is as a rule a rich network of blood vessels surrounding islets of tumor cells take part.