Surgical management of carotid body tumors.
BACKGROUND
Carotid body tumors (CBT) should be considered when evaluating every lateral neck mass.


METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted of 52 patients with 57 CBT. The surgical approach and complications were reviewed. All patients were operated on without preoperative embolization.


RESULTS
Multifocal paraganglioma (PG) were detected in six cases. A succinate dehydrogenase subunit D (SDHD) mutation was discovered in four patients. Vascular peroperative complication occurred in one case. Vascular reconstruction was decided peroperatively in five cases (8.8%). Vascular reconstruction was 0% for Shamblin 1 or 2 tumors, but 28.5% for Shamblin 3. A postoperative nerve paresis was reported in 24 patients (42.1%) and vagal nerve paralysis persisted in four cases (7.01%). The rate of serious complications, e.g., permanent nerve palsy, preoperative and postoperative complications, was 14.03%; it was 2.3% for Shamblin 1 or 2 tumors and 35.7% for Shamblin 3. One patient had malignant PG with node metastasis and was not referred for radiotherapy. No recurrence or metastasis was reported after 6-year follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Early surgical treatment is recommended in almost all patients after preoperative evaluation and detection of multifocal tumors. Surgical excision of small tumors was safe and without complication, but resection of Shamblin 3 tumors can be challenging. Routine preoperative embolization of carotid body paragangliomas is not required.
Head and Neck Surgery Department, Hôpital Gui de Chauliac, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France. m-makeieff@chu-montpellier.fr
M
M
Makeieff
I
I
Raingeard
P
P
Alric
A
A
Bonafe
B
B
Guerrier
Ch
Ch
Marty-Ane
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002345:Carotid Body Tumor / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome