[Carotid body tumors - diagnosis and treatment]

Carotid body tumors are rare, with a tendency of slow but progressive growth, giving rise to external compression and/or involvement of the carotid arteries, craniofacial nerves and other neighbouring structures. They are adequately vascularized, with surgery being the treatment of choice. Localization and vascularity require comprehensive understanding of the anatomy, and most likely, vascular surgeons with carotid experience and neurosurgeons would make the best teams. In certain cases the participation of craniofacial surgeon is likewise needed. Over the period 1989 through 1999, in the Department of Vascular Surgery, six patients presenting carotid body tumor are treated. There is not a single case with bilateral involvement, and all have negative family history for carotid body tumor. Two of them are subjected to explorative surgery elsewhere. Two patients only are asymptomatic. In 3 patients CT of the neck, and in one--MRI are used as diagnostic modalities. Five patients undergo carotid artery ultrasonography, and three--angiography. Internal carotid clamping is necessitated in one case only, undergoing explorative surgery at another hospital and presenting a big tumor, stage III (Shamblin). Postoperatively, the patients complain of slight deviation of the tongue and slurred speech. The check-up carotid ultrasound shows hemodynamically relevant stenosis of the internal carotid artery, 1 cm distally to the carotid bifurcation, without flow into the external carotid being detected. On follow-up, all patients are alive and free of local recurrences or metastases.