Back to Karmody Posters

CAROTID BODY TUMORS
Background:
Carotid Body Tumors (CBT) are rare. Preoperative embolization has been advocated to decrease blood loss and facilitate resection.
Purpose:
To review in detail the clinical management and outcomes of patients presenting with CBT for resection without preoperative embolization.
Methods:
A retrospective chart review of all patients presenting to our practice for CBT resection. Preoperative and operative details were reviewed as well as long-term follow-up.
Results:
In a 10-year period, ten patients (7 women and 4 men), average age 51 (range 38-60) underwent resection of CBT. Six patients had a palpable mass and the others had discrete masses detected incidentally on imaging. All patients had either preoperative CTA or angiography. None had tumor embolization. Two patients required nasotracheal intubation and mandibular subluxation to facilitate resection. Harmonic scalpel and monopolar cautery were used in all patients. The average tumor size was 3.6 cm (range 0.7-5.8 cm). Classification of the tumors was: Shamblin type I (one patient), type II (5 patients) and type III (5 patients). Blood loss averaged 150 ml. Two patients had residual tumor near the skull base. One patient received postoperative radiation and the other presented 5 years later with intracranial recurrence. There were no deaths or perioperative strokes. Two patients had transient swallowing difficulties and one patient with vagus nerve involvement had a permanent deficit.
Conclusion:
CBT while rare are quite challenging to resect. Despite a higher incidence of aggressive CBT in our patients, safe resection was accomplished in most cases without preoperative embolization.