Carotid body tumor: retrospective analysis on 22 patients.
Carotid body tumors, or chemodectomas, are the most common head and neck paragangliomas, accounting for 80% of the cases. They may present minor symptoms; however, they deserve special attention in order to achieve accurate diagnosis and adequate treatment. The objectives of this study were to show the approach towards chemodectomas and evaluate the complications of the patients treated surgically without previous embolization.



Retrospective study on chemodectomas followed up at the Head and Neck Surgery Service, Department of Surgery, Unicamp.



Twenty-two patients were evaluated between 1983 and 2009. The diagnosis was based on clinical findings and imaging methods. The epidemiological characteristics, lesion characteristics, diagnostic methods, treatment and complications were analyzed.



The paragangliomas were classified as Shamblin I (9%), II (68.1%) and III (22.7%). Angiography, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography confirmed the diagnosis in 20 patients (90.9%). Five (22.7%) had significant bleeding during the surgery, while four (18.1%) had minor bleeding. Four patients (18.1%) developed neurological sequelae. Seven (31.8%) needed ligatures of the external carotid artery. Three patients (13.6%) underwent carotid bulb resection. The postoperative follow-up ranged from 3 months to 14 years without recurrences or mortality.



In our experience and in accordance with the literature, significant bleeding and neurological sequelae may occur in chemodectoma cases, particularly in Shamblin III patients. The complications from treatment without previous embolization were similar to data in the literature data, from cases in which this procedure was applied prior to surgery.
Department of Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
André Luís Maion
AL
Casarim
Department of Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Alfio José
AJ
Tincani
Department of Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
André
A
Del Negro
Department of Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Camila Guimarães
CG
Aguiar
Department of Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Renato Ventura
RV
Fanni
Department of Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Antonio Santos
AS
Martins
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002345:Carotid Body Tumor / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010235:Paraganglioma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult