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Surgical Management of Carotid Body Tumors

  • Head and Neck Oncology
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Carotid body tumors (CBT) should be considered when evaluating every lateral neck mass.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted of 52 patients with 57 CBT. The surgical approach and complications were reviewed. All patients were operated on without preoperative embolization.

Results

Multifocal paraganglioma (PG) were detected in six cases. A succinate dehydrogenase subunit D (SDHD) mutation was discovered in four patients. Vascular peroperative complication occurred in one case. Vascular reconstruction was decided peroperatively in five cases (8.8%). Vascular reconstruction was 0% for Shamblin 1 or 2 tumors, but 28.5% for Shamblin 3. A postoperative nerve paresis was reported in 24 patients (42.1%) and vagal nerve paralysis persisted in four cases (7.01%). The rate of serious complications, e.g., permanent nerve palsy, preoperative and postoperative complications, was 14.03%; it was 2.3% for Shamblin 1 or 2 tumors and 35.7% for Shamblin 3. One patient had malignant PG with node metastasis and was not referred for radiotherapy. No recurrence or metastasis was reported after 6-year follow-up.

Conclusion

Early surgical treatment is recommended in almost all patients after preoperative evaluation and detection of multifocal tumors. Surgical excision of small tumors was safe and without complication, but resection of Shamblin 3 tumors can be challenging. Routine preoperative embolization of carotid body paragangliomas is not required.

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Correspondence to M. Makeieff MD, PhD.

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Makeieff, M., Raingeard, I., Alric, P. et al. Surgical Management of Carotid Body Tumors. Ann Surg Oncol 15, 2180–2186 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-008-9977-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-008-9977-z

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