THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CAROTİD BODY TUMORS
Marmara Üniversitesi Hastanesi, KBB Baş Boyun Cerrahisi A.B.D, İstanbul, Türkiye Objective: Carotid body tumors are rare neoplasm arising from the paraganglion cells of the carotid body. Because of peripheral vascular and neural invasion or compression of tumors, early diagnosis and treatments are very important, whereas this kind of tumors have got slow progression and low malignity potential. In this study we presented carotid body tumors with reviewing of literature.Patients and methods: A retrospective review was performed of patients at University of Marmara in whom carotid body tumor was diagnosed between 1988 and 2004. Preoperative complaints, clinical radiological findings, surgical approachs, complications of surgery and outcome of treatment were presented.
Results: Between 1988 and 2004, 23 (%85.1) women and 4 (%14.9) men were treated with carotid body tumors. The age range of the extended from 25 to 72 years old, with a mean age of 42 years. Of these patients, one of them presented with bilateral tumors. We divided the groups according to the Shamblin classification. There were 14 patients (11 women, 3 men) in the first group, 9 patients (8 women, 1 man) in the second group and 5 patients (4 women, 1 man) in the third group. 24 of the 27 patients underwent surgical resection. For the patients who underwent preoperative embolisation, the blood loss was less then for those without embolisation. We determined one vagal nerve deficit and one hypoglossal nerve deficit preoperatively and the deficits continued postoperatively. In one patient the deficit of the vagal nerve improved postoperatively. In another patient Horner syndrome was permenantly occured postoperatively.
Conclusion: Surgical resection is the treatment of choice for carotid body tumors. Embolization before surgery decreases blood loss and facilitates tumor removal.
Keywords : Karotid body tumor, Surgical resection, Embolization