Efficiency of preoperative embolization of carotid body tumor

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficiency of preoperative embolization on vascular rupture rates during surgery in 13 patients within two groups.

Retrospective medical records of 7 patients who did undergo preoperative tumor embolization and 6 patients who did not undergo embolization were reviewed. All patients underwent surgical resection of a carotid body tumor from 2010 to 2014 within a tertiary care hospital. Demographic data including age, gender, and tumor size were collected. Glomic artery supply was evaluated with digital subtraction angiography in each patient. The degree of flow reduction was calculated instantly following each injection of embolic material. Complications of embolization were also collected. The estimated blood loss and the operation time were obtained from intraoperative records and operative notes dictated at the time of surgery. Operative records were evaluated for carotid artery rupture and Shamblin classification of glomus tumors.

The mean patient age was 48.5 years (range 22-70), and 3 patients were male, 10 were female. All of the patients except one had Shamblin classification II. The mean diameter of tumor size was 4.42 cm. Relative rates of blood flow reduction during embolization were greater than 50% in 4 patients and 25-50% in 3 patients. Carotid artery injury was recorded in 4 patients within embolization group and in 1 patient within the other group. There were no significant differences between carotid artery rupture and embolization, blood loss, tumor size, and supplying artery.

Transarterial preoperative embolization of carotid body tumor does not seem to be helpful and should be discussed.