Value of ultrasound and CT in diagnosis of carotid body tumor

Abstract

Objective To investigate the value of ultrasound and CT in the diagnosis of carotid body tumor. Methods Twenty cases of suspected carotid body tumors were examined by ultrasound and CT, and finally diagnosed by operation and pathology. The ultrasonographic and CT characteristics of carotid body tumor were summarized, and the difference between the two methods of carotid body tumor was compared and analyzed. Results The sensitivity of diagnosis of CT, ultrasound and combination of the two methods were 93.3%, 80%, 93.3%, the specificity was 100%, 40%, 100%, the positive predictive value were 100%, 80%, 100%, and negative predictive value were 83.3%, 40%, 83.3%, diagnosis accuracy were 90%, 70%, 90%. The misdiagnosis rate was 10%, 30%, 10%. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of CT and Ultrasound in the diagnosis of carotid bady tumenr had no significant difference (P>0.05). Conclusions Ultrasound and CT can detect carotid body tumor sensitively, and the diagnostic accuracy is not significant. Ultrasound can be used as the preferred imaging examination method because of its advantages such as low cost and no radiation. Key words: Carotid body tumor; Ultrasound; Computerized tomography