Chemodectomas of the carotid body and of the glomus vagale are uncommon tumors of the head and neck. Between 1981 and 1986, 6 patients with advanced chemodectomas of either the carotid body (5 patients) or the glomus vagale (1 patient) were treated with radiotherapy at the University of Florida. Tumors were bilateral in 2 patients. Five patients have had no evidence of disease progression for 5, 5.5, 7, 7, and 8.5 years following irradiation. One of the 5 patients experienced complete regression, 2 noted partial regression, and 2 remained stable (without progression). One patient, who had received 2 prior operations and a course of irradiation at another institution, died of locally recurrent disease 5 years after re-irradiation at the University of Florida. No patient experienced a significant complication secondary to irradiation.