Our experience of carotid body tumours

Abstract

Introduction

Carotid body tumours, though rare, represent majority of head and neck paraganglioma. They are benign tumours with malignant potential ranging from 2.5 to 25 %. These tumours have no true capsules. They grow slowly and progressively to invade vessels, nerves and base of skull, indicating an early surgical excision. We report our experience of this rare clinical entity at our institute.

Methods

Fifteen patients of carotid body tumour were operated at our institute in the period from January 2004 to October 2013. Case records were studied as regards the clinical presentation, surgical procedure, in-hospital morbidity and recurrence at follow-up.

Results

There were 15 patients in the study group, out of which six were females. The mean age of presentation was 50 years (range from 30 to 60 years). The commonest presentation was a slow-growing mass predominantly on right side (60 %). All patients underwent computerized tomography (CT) angiography. None of the tumours were endocrinologically active at presentation. In all the patients, meticulous sub-adventitial excision was done and total resection was achieved without any significant blood loss. All tumours were confirmed to be carotid body tumour on histopathological examination. One needed re-anastomosis of the external carotid artery and one needed repair of common carotid artery. At 5-year follow-up, no recurrences of the tumour were noted.

Conclusions

Carotid body tumours are rare benign tumours with no or low rate of recurrence. A meticulous and patient sub-adventitial excision is the recommended operative procedure which allows a complete resection of the carotid body tumours with minimal morbidity and no surgical mortality. Operative complications include injury to the carotid arteries and its branches, and thus facility for arterial repair should always be available.