Surgical treatment of carotid body tumor in 80 patients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the diagnosis, preoperative examination and surgical treatment of carotid body tumor(CBT). Methods From December 2008 to December 2012 80 patients of carotid body tumor were treated in our center. The average age was(43±12)years, 33 cases were male, 47 cases were female. The lesions were unilateral in 68 cases and bilateral in 12. All tumors were surgically resected. In 26 of ShamblinⅠ, 32 of Shamblin Ⅱ and 19 of Shamblin Ⅲ tumors were simply resected. One Shamblin Ⅱ and 2 Shamblin Ⅲ cases underwent tumor resection combined with external carotid embolization. 3 Shamblin Ⅱ and 8 Shamblin Ⅲ cases were treated by tumor resection combined with internal carotid reconstruction, 1 Shamblin Ⅲ was done with tumor resection combined internal carotid repair. Results All of 80 patients with 92 tumors were successfully resected. There was no death case during peroperative period, while one case developed hemiplegia and 14 cases suffered cranial nerve injuries. 68 cases (85%) were followed-up from 1 year to 6 years. Thera were 14 patients with cranial nerve injuries, 2 of them were lost to follow-up, 11 with complete or partial recovery and 1 was still doing poorly. Conclusions Tumor size and its relation to the carotid artery form the basis upon which appropriate operation is adopted. Key words: Carotid body tumor; Surgical procedures, operative; Postoperative complications