Chemodectoma in the Region of the Aortic Arch

Malignant nonchromaffin paraganglioma.

“…Boyd (1937) described the embryology and phylogenetic development from nerves supplying the gills, which explains the distribution around nerves and vessels derived from branchial arches. Smithers and Gowing (1965) reviewed 28 cases of chemodectoma in the region of the aortic arch; of these, 11 had survived some years after surgical excision. The others had died with varying degrees of complications attributable to the tumour.…”

“…Both multicentric origin and metastatic spread have been reported (Smithers and Gowing, 1965;Haber, 1964;Brown, Burton, and Dahlin, 1967), though metastases are considered rare. They often remain asymptomatic until the size of the tumour produces pressure symptoms (Haber, 1964).…”

Chemodectoma in relation to the aortic arch (aortic body tumour): A clinical report

“…Since then more cases have been reported in the world literature. Smithers and Gowing (1965) compiled an excellent summary of all 28 cases reported in the literature to this date. Subsequent to 1965 the authors can find no further cases reported in journals which are available to them.…”

Complications of mediastinal neural tumours

“…Thus some paragangliomas in normotensives may well be pheochromocytomas. Smithers and Gowing (1965) refer to tumours in the aortic arch region as chemodectomas. This term was suggested by Mulligan (1950) for a tumour of the chemoreceptors.…”