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Updated: Jun 15, 2025
Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Management of bilateral head and neck paragangliomas at a single-institution across four decades
Nikhil Bellamkonda1, Evan L Tooker2, Anne Naumer3
1Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Background:
Bilateral head and neck paragangliomas (HNPGLs) require nuanced management to balance tumor control with functional preservation.
Methods:
All patients seen at a single-institution for bilateral paraganglioma between 1983 and 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographics, genetic testing results, and tumor characteristics were analyzed and compared to treatment modality and cranial nerve outcomes.
Results:
There were 49 patients with 116 tumors (90 carotid body tumors [CBTs], 15 vagal paragangliomas [VPs], and 11 jugular paragangliomas [JPs]). Twenty-six patients had SDH pathologic variants (PV). Surgical management was more commonly utilized in younger patients (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.950-0.992) and for JPs (OR: 9, 95% CI: 1.386-58.443). In surgical cases, CBTs had a lower risk of postoperative cranial nerve deficits compared to JPs and VPs (OR: 0.095, 95% CI: 0.013-0.692).
Conclusions:
Younger patients with bilateral HNPGLs, especially those with JP and CBT, are more often treated with surgery. CBTs have lowest risk of cranial nerve deficits after surgery.
