Value of MRI in preoperative evaluation of carotid body tumor

Abstract

To evaluate the value of MRI in preoperative evaluation of carotid body tumor. A retrospective study was including 32 CBT of 28 patients of carotid body tumor with complete clinical, imaging and pathological data in our hospital. The MRI images of vascular adjacent length, no enhancement vascular wall, carotid displacement, wrapping angle and carotid stenosis were analyzed respectively in tumor resection group, tumor dissection and artery repair group, and tumor and artery resection group. The results were compared with surgery. The indexes of vascular adjacent average length were (3.2 ± 0.8), (3.4 ± 0.7) and (3.8 ± 1.0) cm, respectively.The indexes of vascular adjacent average length and vascular displacement, which all showed no significant difference between each operation group (P=0.577, 0.859). The indexes of no enhancement vascular wall, wrapping angle and carotid stenosis, which all showed significant difference between each operation group (all P<0.01). Compared with the surgical and pathological findings, with no enhancement vascular wall <2/3 circumference as the index of carotid artery repair or resection, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 86.4%, 90%, 87.5% respectively. With wrapping angle >1/3 circumference as the index of carotid artery repair or resection, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 86.4%, 90%, 87.5% respectively. With carotid stenosis as the index of carotid artery resection, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 80%, 100%, 93.7% respectively. The no enhancement vascular wall, wrapping angle and carotid stenosis have a correlation with carotid artery intervention.The no enhancement vascular wall <2/3 circumference, wrapping angle >1/3 circumference and carotid stenosis have a certain value in preoperative evaluation of carotid body tumor, although vascular adjacent average length and vascular displacement have limited value.