[Diagnosis and surgical management of carotid body tumor as well as blood vessel prosthesis' role].
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of carotid body tumor (CBT).


METHODS
Seven patients with CBT had been hospitalized between 2003 and 2006. The clinical data was analyzed retrospectively. The preoperative evaluation included angiography in 7 patients. Most of them had an asymptomatic cervical lateral mass. Only one patient had the hoarseness and buckling and was given radiation therapy alone. Six of seven patients with carotid body tumour underwent surgery. Simple tumor excision was accomplished in 4. Carotid artery resection with the tumor was required in 2 patients and in the both, interposition of a 7 mm polytetrafluoroethylene graft was performed . During the resection, temporary carotid shunt was required in the two patients.


RESULTS
All tumors by surgery were identified as carotid paragangliomas without evidence of malignancy. There was no mortality and no hemiplegia. After surgery, temporary cranial nerve dysfunction was noted in one case. In the follow-up period of 2 months to 2 years, no recurrent disease occurred. The patient's tumor who accepted radiotherapy was in the stable stage under the half year follow up, and the follow up would be further continued.


CONCLUSIONS
With non-invasive investigation and arteriography it was possible to obtain an early and precise diagnosis. The surgical management was the major treatment of these tumors. The pattern of operation should be chosen according to the relation of tumor and carotid. The decision to perform simple tumor excision or additional arterial resection was based on diagnostic preoperative and after the arterial resection the polytetrafluoroethylene graft would be used for carotid reconstruction.
Ye
Ping
P
Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
Pan
Xin-liang
XL
Liu
Da-yu
DY
Lei
Da-peng
DP
Cai
Xiao-lan
XL
D000328:Adult; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D002345:Carotid Body Tumor / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies