Outcome of Surgical Treatment for Carotid Body Tumors in Different Shambling Type Without Preoperative Embolization: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

Abstract

Carotid body tumor (CBT) is the most common head and neck paragangliomas. Surgical resection is the golden standard management for CBT. While preoperative embolization is still controversial, long-term outcomes and perioperative results are still deficient. We, here, presented the outcomes of surgical treatment for CBT without preoperative embolization at our institution. In this retrospective study, we collected data from 101 patients who received surgical treatment for CBTs without preoperative embolization from 2011 to 2016. In addition, we attempted to conduct 2years of follow-up under the guidance of both neurologist and vascular surgeon. Patients' demographics, clinical characteristics, complications, and follow-up results were all analyzed with descriptive statistics. Complete resection of the CBT was achieved in 101 cases (100%). Postoperative adverse events (AEs) mostly observed during hospitalization were as follows: tongue bias (I:4, 36.4%; II: 8, 19.5%; III: 13, 26.5%), hoarseness (I: 1, 9.1%; II: 4, 9.8%; III: 7, 14.3%), dysphagia (I: 0; II: 2, 4.9%; III: 7, 14.3%), and hematoma (I: 0; II: 0; III: 1, 2.0%). No other serious AEs were observed. The total incidence of AEs in type I patients was 5 (45.5%), 14 (34.1%) in type II, and 28 (57.1%) in type III, and the type III group has significantly higher than the other two groups. At the end of 2years of follow-up, there were no AEs in type I patients. The number of patients with AEs in type III was greater than that in type II, although there was no significant difference. Based on our findings, 3 most commonly injured cranial nerves (CNs) after surgical resection of CBT were CN XII (hypoglossal nerve, 21.9%), CN X (vagus nerve, 20.3%), and recurrent laryngeal nerve (18.8%). Surgical management without preoperative embolization for CBT patients is a safe and effective therapeutic approach.