Current concepts for the surgical management of carotid body tumor.
BACKGROUND
Carotid body tumor (CBT) is a rare lesion of the neuroendocrine system. Chronic hypoxia has long been recognized as an etiology of CBT and other paragangliomas. Recent biogenetic discoveries reveal that mutations in oxygen-sensing genes are another etiology, accounting for approximately 35% of cases, and that these 2 etiologies are probably additive.


METHODS
(1) A retrospective analysis of fifteen cases of CBT in a 6-year period occurring in the mountains of Southern Appalachia; (2) an extensive review of the literature on the surgery of CBT and on the expansive biogenetic understanding of the disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Improved imaging, vascular surgical techniques, and understanding of the disease have vastly improved outcomes for patients. The necessities for long-term follow-up and appropriate genetic testing and counseling of patients and their families are documented. Surgeon and institutional competence are critical in achieving maximal outcomes.
Knight
Theron T
TT
Department of Surgery, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, P. O. Box 70575, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA. knighttt@etsu.edu
Gonzalez
Jose Andres
JA
Rary
John M
JM
Rush
Daniel S
DS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002344:Carotid Body / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D002345:Carotid Body Tumor / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies