title: Multidisciplinary Management of Carotid Body Tumors in a Tertiary Urban Institution.
abstract: Objective. Aim of this study is to present the experience of our institution in carotid body tumors (CBTs) treatment. Methods. All cases treated in a Vascular Surgery Department within 2.5 years (03/2013-09/2015) were retrospectively evaluated. Demographics, diagnostic, and treatment strategy were recorded. All patients with known CBT underwent ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging preoperatively. All cases were classified according to the Shamblin type and evaluated by a radiologist, otolaryngologist, and anesthesiologist before and after surgery. Major outcomes included mortality, stroke, cranial nerve injury, and recurrence. Results. Overall, nine patients (mean age: 59.5 ± 16.3 years) with a total of ten CBTs were treated. There was no gender prevalence and most of the cases (55%) were asymptomatic. There were no functional or familial cases. There was only one bilateral case treated in a staged manner. No preoperative embolization of CBTs was performed. Mortality and stroke rates were null. No severe complication was observed in the early and late setting. No malignancy was recorded. Mean follow-up was 15.6 ± 7.8 months. Conclusions. Multidisciplinary management of patients with CBTs is imperative for optimal results, especially in type III tumors, bilateral or functional cases. After careful treatment planning and intraoperative manipulations, complications could be avoided even without preoperative embolization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, KAT General Hospital, 14561 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galyfos
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, KAT General Hospital, 14561 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stamatatos
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, KAT General Hospital, 14561 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kerasidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, KAT General Hospital, 14561 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stefanidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, KAT General Hospital, 14561 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Sotirios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giannakakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, KAT General Hospital, 14561 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kastrisios
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, KAT General Hospital, 14561 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Geropapas
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, KAT General Hospital, 14561 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Gerasimos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Papacharalampous
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, KAT General Hospital, 14561 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Chrisostomos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maltezos