Use of the Amplatzer vascular plug to treat carotid body tumors extending to the skull base.

BACKGROUND:Carotid body tumors extending to the skull base are hypervascular tumors which are difficult to access using a traditional lateral cervical approach. Preoperative embolization can reduce intraoperative blood loss. CASE PRESENTATION:We report two patients with a carotid body tumor extending to the skull base who underwent preoperative embolization of the external carotid artery using an Amplatzer vascular plug. Two days after embolization, surgical resection was performed. Embolization was successful in both patients and resection proceeded smoothly. Both were discharged on postoperative day 9 without complications. The tumor in each patient was classified as Shamblin group III. Computed tomography angiography of the neck six months after surgery showed patency of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery and no tumor recurrence. CONCLUSION:Preoperative embolization of the external carotid artery using the Amplatzer vascular plug is safe and feasible for patients with carotid body tumors extending to the skull base.