[Clinical analysis of 24 cases of carotid body tumor].

Objective: To study the clinical diagnosis and preoperative management of carotid body tumor.

Methods: A total of 24 cases with carotid body tumors underwent surgery from 2003 to 2013 were reviewed. The clinical and imaging features, treatment and prognosis were retrospectively evaluated. Five of the 24 patients were males and 19 were females. Twenty-three cases were benign and one case was malignant. Seven of the 24 patients had bilateral tumors.

Results: Nineteen of twenty-four patients underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and temporary balloon occlusion (TBO) test, and one case of them was positive in the test. Twenty-three benign case were treated with operation. The malignant one treat with biopsy. Three cases underwent resection of tumors with both the internal and external carotid arteries without carotid reconstruction, and none of the three patients died or presented with hemiplegia after operation. Twenty-three benign cases were followed up for 6-122 months, the median was 75 months. The malignant patient died 6 months after operation.

Conclusion: TBO and DSA are reliable and practical methods to determine the safety of carotid ligation and can be used as routine preoperative examinations.