Color Doppler imaging of paragangliomas in the neck

Purpose In this study, we describe the color Doppler imaging findings in carotid body tumors and vagal body tumors. Methods B‐mode and color Doppler imaging were performed on 17 patients who had a total of 25 previously diagnosed paragangliomas (14 carotid body tumors and 11 vagal body tumors). Results Nineteen of 25 tumors were depicted. Five small vagal body tumors in the region of the nodose ganglion and 1 carotid body tumor could not be depicted. With B‐mode imaging, paragangliomas appeared as well‐defined, solid, hypoechoic masses. With color Doppler imaging, hypervascularity with a low‐resistance flow pattern was demonstrated in all but 1 of the 19 tumors. Conclusions The use of color Doppler imaging in the workup of an ambiguous neck mass is advocated. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 25: 481–485, 1997.