Carotid Body Tumors

Definitive radiotherapy in the management of chemodectomas arising in the temporal bone, carotid body, and glomus vagale

“…For larger tumors, numerous surgical series have shown inordinate morbidity to cranial nerves and vascular structures if resection is attempted. [1][2][3]9,[11][12][13][14]20,22,[26][27][28][29][30] Accordingly, we continue to recommend RT alone in these situations. Patients are treated with 45 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks; there is no evidence that higher doses improve the already high likelihood of tumor control.…”

“…1-3-25 Some believe that radiation therapy (RT) should be reserved for palliation, because a residual mass often remains for years after treatment without progression 26 ; however, surgical resection of extensive tumors is frequently associated with excessive morbidity, including damage to vascular structures and cranial nerves. [1][2][3]9,[11][12][13][14]20,22,[26][27][28][29][30] Our belief is that absence of tumor progression is tantamount to cure in patients who have an asymptomatic residual mass after RT. The aim of this article is to present the University of Florida experience spanning more than 30 years in treating chemodectomas with definitive external beam RT.…”

Definitive radiotherapy in the management of paragangliomas arising in the head and neck: A 35‐year experience

“…2,[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] Some physicians feel that RT should be reserved for palliation because a residual mass may remain for years after treatment without progression 26 ; however, surgical resection of extensive tumors is frequently associated with excessive morbidity including damage to vascular and neural structures. 2,8,[11][12][13][14][20][21][22][26][27][28][29][30] Our philosophy is that the absence of tumor progression is equivalent to cure in patients who have an asymptomatic residual mass after RT.…”

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches to Carotid Body Tumours: Report of Three Cases and Review of the Literature

“…In 1990 Krause et al reported a series of 14 cases of carotid body tumour without any mortality. 23 Cranial nerve paresis were seen in four patients (29%). In 1992 Williams et al reported 33 cases of carotid body tumour, out of which 32 were resected without mortality.…”