Twenty six cases with carotid body tumours (27 tumors) were operaterated on from November,1988 to October, 1997. Eleven of the 26 cases were misdiagnosed in other hospital. Twenty six cases experienced B-mode ultrasonic scanning and 18 carotid arteriography. Seventeen cases underwent general hypothermic anesthesia (30℃-32℃) and 9 general carotid-internal carotid shunt. Eight cases (9 tumors) experienced simple excision of tumor, 3 resection of the tumor with external carotid, 11 excision of the tumor with internal, external and general carotid and carotid-reconstructing. Two cases underwent anestomosis of general carotid with internal carotid and 2 ligation of the internal carotid. All patients showed good results but one complicated with hemiplegia. The authors consider that misdiagnosis can be avoided with careful physical examination, Bmode ultrasonic scanning and arteriography, and hypothermic general anesthesia and intraoperative general carotid internal carotid shunt were important measures for the protection of brain.