Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to carotid body tumors. Review of 24 patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the clinical characteristics of carotid body tumors to define better a standardized proceeding in the management of carotid body tumors.


METHODS
Retrospective survey. Duration of postoperative follow-up was 4 months to 16 years (median, 57 months).


METHODS
Institutional, tertiary care medical center.


METHODS
Consecutive sample of 24 patients (10 men and 14 women) with 28 carotid body tumors treated in the University of Vienna (Austria) General Hospital in 35 years.


METHODS
Surgical resection, preoperative embolization.


METHODS
Initial signs, duration of symptoms, extension of the tumors, methods of investigations, and treatment modality, with special respect to the operative technique.


RESULTS
Doppler color flow imaging and angiography provided essential mainstays for definite diagnosis. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging contributed additional information about tumor extension. Nineteen patients (79%) underwent surgical resection of 22 tumors, 8 (42%) after preoperative embolization. There were no perioperative deaths. Hemiplegia occurred in 1 patient, and cranial nerve palsy occurred in 5 patients. Tumor recurrence was observed in 3 patients. Five patients refused surgery or tumors were unresectable.


CONCLUSIONS
Our standard diagnostic procedure consists of establishing diagnosis by Doppler color flow sonography, angiography for detailing the vascularization of the tumor, and selective embolization to enable safer surgery with less bleeding. Early surgery is recommended to minimize major risks.
Muhm
M
M
Department of Angiology, University of Vienna, Austria.
Polterauer
P
P
Gstöttner
W
W
Temmel
A
A
Richling
B
B
Undt
G
G
Niederle
B
B
Staudacher
M
M
Ehringer
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002345:Carotid Body Tumor / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies