Glomus bodies and tumors

To understand the nature of the glomus bodies and their tumors requires an historical perspective. A large body of evidence exists which supports a role for the carotid body as both a sensory receptor and an endocrine organ, although it is not clear whether the biogenic amine secreted subserves a neurohumoral or true hormonal function. Because of the varying interpretations of these structures, their neoplasms have accordingly been termed glomus tumors, nonchromaffin paragangliomas, paragangliomas, chemodectomas, apudomas, and tumors of the anatomic site or body. A survey is presented.