Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of superselective embolization followed by surgical resection in treatment of carotid body tumors. Methods: The clinical data of 26 patients with carotid body tumors treated in China-Japan Friendship Hospital from April 2007 to September 2015 were reviewed. According to whether or not they underwent preoperative superselective embolization, the patients were classified into embolization group (9 cases) and non-embolization group (17 cases). The relevant clinical variables of the two groups of patients were analyzed and compared. Results: Surgical resection was performed in 26 sides of the 26 patients (27 sides). In embolization group compared with non-embolization group, the mean operative time (127.22 min vs. 158.82 min) and intraoperative blood loss (110.00 mL vs. 355.88 mL) were both significantly reduced (both P<0.05), while both operative time and intraoperative blood loss presented an increasing tendency with increase of the severity of the tumor (Shamblin’s classification) in either group. In all the 26 patients, the neck mass disappeared and the accompanied symptoms such as pain and pharyngeal discomfort were relieved after surgery. No death or paralysis occurred during perioperative period, but nervous dysfunction occurred in 7 patients (26.92%) and, in all of them, it had recovered on follow-up 6 months after surgery. Conclusion: For carotid body tumors, surgical resection is safe and reliable, and is the first choice of treatment. Preoperative superseclective embolization can significantly reduce blood loss and shorten operative time.