A importância da embolização pré-operatória no tratamento do tumor do corpo carotídeo: relato de caso e revisão da literatura The importance of preoperative embolization for the treatment of the carotid body tumor: case report and review of the literature

Carotid body tumors are rare neoplasms originating from the small chemo- and baroreceptors located in the adventitia of the common carotid artery bifurcation. They are a disease of great interest for vascular surgeons, given that they grow adhered to the adventitia of vessels comprising this bifurcation. For that, their surgery requires not only anatomical knowledge of the region, but also perfect familiarization with vascular repair techniques. Carotid body tumors are a particular problem as to their management, due to rich vascularization and intimacy with important structures of the cervical region, such as nerves and large vessels. We report on a male patient with carotid body tumor adhered to the right carotid artery, diagnosed by puncture biopsy and treated at two different time periods: first by endovascular treatment, with percutaneous embolization of the tumor; and later by surgical resection, which represents the combined treatment suggested in the current literature.