Objective To investigate the experience of selective embolization combined with intraoperative internal carotid artery shunt for surgical treatment of carotid body tumor （CBT）. Methods The data of 21 patients （22 sides） with CBT who underwent surgical resection from January 2002 to July 2012 in our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The all patients’ conditions were fully assessmented and all patients were performed the carotid arteriography and superselective embolization treatment for the blood supply of tumor by with microcatheter on 2-3 days before operation，and then intraoperative internal carotid artery shunt and resection of carotid body tumors were performed. Results Surgical procedures were successfully performeded in all 21 patients （22 sides）. Among them， 16 patients （17 sides） were taken carotid body tumor resected， 5 patients were taken carotid body tumor resected and internal carotid artery reconstruction （autogenous long saphenous vein were used in 3 patients， vascular prosthesis were used in 2 patients）. The postoperative complications were found in 5 patients after anesthesia recovery， which included crooked tongue in 3 cases and facial numbness in 2 cases， and they were cured in 3 months. There were no cerebral infarction， hemiplegia， and death cases. All 21 patients were followed-up for a period from 2 months to 9 years（average 57 months）， there was no tumor recurred. Conclusions Surgical resection is the first choice for treatment of carotid body tumor. The application of selective embolization and intraoperative internal carotid artery shunt for surgical treatment of carotid body tumor in complicated Shamblin Ⅲ stage is safe and effective.