Carotid body paragangliomas

Abstract EN

The aim of this study is to review our experience in the management of carotid body tumors in the National Cancer Institute.

This retrospective and prospective review was carried out at NCI Department of Surgical Oncology.

Eleven patients with carotid body tumors were identified from January 1997 to December 2000.

All of them were submitted to surgery after preoperative clinical and radiological diagnosis.

None of them underwent pre-operative embolization.

Two patients died from severe blood loss during surgery.

Neurological deficits were noted in 3 patients immediately after surgery.

In one patient the deficit was permanent.

Conclusive surgical resection is the treatment of choice for carotid body tumors.

In our series, the risk of post-surgical cranial nerve deficits was small.

Simple observation of these tumors is not recommended, as the treatment of choice, because progressive growth is associated with increased risk of neurological deficits.