Chemodectomas: a review of 17 cases

Seventeen cases of chemodectomas seen in the University College Hospital, Ibadan, are presented. Eight of them (48%) are carotid body tumors, while six (36%) are glomus jugulare. The rest are subglottic, abdominal and multicentric. The sex distribution for the two major types is equal for males and females; but they all seem to appear in younger age groups. Operative mortality has been exclusive to carotid body tumors (50% for this group), while bleeding is the leading postoperative complication in all the cases. The embryology, pathophysiology and clinical presentation of chemodectomas are discussed and it is suggested that, in the management of this condition, the advantages of operation should be weighed against morbidity and mortality risks.