Surgical treatment for carotid body tumors

Abstract

Objective To discuss the diagnosis and surgical treatment for carotid body tumors (CBT). Methods Retrospective analysis was made on 16 cases of carotid body tumors hospitalized in Shandong Provincal Hospital from January 2003 to October 2010. All patients were diagnosed by digital subtraction angiography, including 3 case of Shamblin type Ⅰ,11 cases of Shamblin type Ⅱ and 2 cases of Shamblin type Ⅲ. Three cases of type Ⅰ and 3 cases of type Ⅱ underwent carotid body tumor resection. Three cases of type Ⅱ underwent carotid body tumor plus external carotid artery resection, 3 cases underwent carotid body tumor plus external carotid artery resection plus carotid artery repairment, 2 cases did carotid body tumor plus external carotid artery resection plus internal carotid artery reconstruction. One of type Ⅲ underwent carotid body tumor plus external carotid artery resection plus carotid artery repairment, and the other one underwent carotid body tumor plus external carotid artery resection plus internal carotid artery reconstruction. Results Diagnosis of CBT was confirmed by pathology in all cases. There was no postoperative death、hemiplegia and blindness. The cranial nerve injury was caused in 7 cases, accounting for 43. 75%. 13 cases ( 81. 25% ) were followed up for 2 to 76 months ( mean 42 months), no tumor recurrence and metastasis was found. Conclusions Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is important in the diagnosis and therapy of carotid body tumor. Surgical treatment is the choice of therapy for carotid body tumors. Key words: Carotid body tumor; Vascular surgical procedures; Angiography, digital subtraction