Diagnosis and treatment of carotid body tumors

Objective: Carotid body tumors (CBTs), especially familial paragangliomas, are rare benign neoplasm, accounting for <0.5% of all tumors; and they are the most common extra-adrenal paraganglioma. 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. The aim of this study was to review an institutional experience in the management of paragangliomas. Methodology: In this study, CBTs were clinically suspected in 33 patients but diagnosed by histopathology in between 1999 and 2011 at our department. Three of these patients presented with bilateral tumors. All but one was operated upon. The ages of the 48.3 surgically treated patients ranged 32-58 years. A mass in the neck was the common symptom in all patients. The patients were classified according to the Shamblin classification. There were 17 patients (11 women 6 men) in the first group, 13 patients (9 women, 4 men) in the second group, and 3 patients (2 women 1 man) in the third group. Results: All of these 33 surgically treated patients had confirmed CBT by histopathology. CBTs were resected without a shunt procedure. No mortality occurred, however one patient experienced Horner syndrome post operatively. In the follow up period, no recurrences were observed. Three of the patients was had hoarseness, but improved after six months. No stroke occurred in the patients. Conclusion: CBTs are infrequent neoplasm; their surgical treatment is highly dependent on the ability and experience of the surgeon. The diagnostic and therapeutic relevance reside in making a timely diagnosis to propose a surgical treatment aimed at preventing complications and neurological damage. Surgical resection is usually definitive therapy for these lesions.