BACKGROUND Carotid body tumors arise from a cellular conglomerate located at the carotid bifurcation. Progressive enlargement can involve the arterial wall and neighbor cranial nerves. OBJECTIVE To report a series of 10 patients treated of carotid body tumors and review national experience. METHODS Between 1984 and 2006, we operated 8 women and 2 men, aged 19 to 75 years, with this type of tumor. RESULTS The most common cause for consultation was a cervical mass in 90%, with a mean evolution lapse of 13.2 months (range 3 to 126). In all cases, diagnosis was confirmed with angiographic imaging and histopathology. Ten tumors were surgically removed with no complications. Eighty percent of tumors were in stage II according to Shamblin classification. During long term follow up all patients have remained asymptomatic. Only 31 carotid body tumors have been reported in Chilean medical literature during a 43 year period. CONCLUSIONS Paragangliomas of the carotid body can be diagnosed in clinical grounds, requiring vascular imaging. These infrequent lesions are generally benign, early surgical removal by surgeons with vascular expertise avoids neurological and or vascular complications.