The authors report a case of carotid body tumor (paraganglioma) in a 74-year-old male patient, submitted to intraarterial embolization with spherical core/shield polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl alcohol (PVAc + PVA) microparticles prior to surgical excision. Angiography has demonstrated a highly vascularized mass in the left carotid bifurcation, and preoperative embolization was used in order to decrease vascularity, reduce blood loss and improve safety of surgical treatment. Microscopic study confirmed presence of thrombosis and tissue ischemia.
Therapeutic embolization; polyvinyl alcohol; polyvinyl acetate; interventional radiology; paraganglioma; carotid body tumor
