A unilateral carotid body tumor: A report of two cases

Abstract

Carotid body tumors usually occur as painless mass in the neck and are quite vascular and slow-growing tumors. Diagnosis is based on Doppler ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance and angiography. Treatment is surgical resection. Cranial nerve damage, vascular injury and bleeding are the most common surgical complications. Selective tumor embolization can be performed preoperatively to reduce tumor vascularity and blood loss during resection. Herein, we report two adult cases presenting with unilateral asymptomatic masses in the neck who were diagnosed with a carotid body tumor and were treated surgically following selective embolization.

Carotid body tumor in a nine-year-old patient

“…The gold-standard treatment of carotid body tumors is subadventitial resection, which may be challenging due to its relation with carotid arteries and neighboring cranial nerves. [ 1 - 3 ] Hypoglossal, vagal, glossopharyngeal, and superior laryngeal nerves may be damaged leading to severe palsies. Stroke may occur during manipulation, and resection may be mortal or result in significant hemorrhage.…”

“…Carotid body tumors, also known as glomus, are frequently located on the carotid bifurcation originating from its adventitial layer, are of neuroendocrine origin, and are the most common paragangliomas located on the head and neck region. [ 1 , 2 ] The most common localization is the adrenal gland; only 3% involve the head and neck region, where they are mostly unilateral and solitary. The incidence varies between 1:30,000 and 1:100,000.…”

“…Primary treatment is surgical resection with or without prior embolization, former easing resection by attenuating intraoperative bleeding. [ 1 ] Herein, we report a case of a unilateral asymptomatic mass on the neck with a diagnosis of carotid body tumor treated surgically without embolization.…”