Diagnostic and surgical treatment of carotid body tumor: a report of 21 cases

Abstract

The clinical data of 21 patients with carotid body tumor (CBT) were analyzed retrospectively. The lesions were unilateral (n=20) and bilateral (n=1). Among 20 surgical cases, the procedures included tumor resection alone (n=11), tumor resection along with external carotid artery (n=6) and vascular reconstruction of carotid artery after resection of tumor body (n=3). No mortality occurred during perioperative period. CBT was confirmed by pathologic examination in all cases and 1 case was malignant. Follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 7 years and the follow-up rate was 85%. Five cases of cranial nerve impairment recovered completely over 3 months. One case of bilateral CBT underwent contralateral tumor resection at another hospital 1 year later and 1 case with malignant tumor died from metastases 3 years later. The remainder survived recurrence-free. CBT tends to be misdiagnosed. Therefore ultrasonography, digital subtraction angiography (DSA), CT angiography (CTA) or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) are important for preoperative diagnosis and evaluation. Surgical resection is a first choice for CBT. Key words: Carotid body tumor; Diagnosis; Surgical procedures, operative