Surgical management of carotid body tumor experience in Zagazig University Hospital

Carotid body tumor is not a common disease, seldom put forth as the likely diagnosis in the case of upper neck swelling. This study was carried out on 8 patients [their ages ranged from 30-62 years [mean 42.9], 5 females and 3 males with carotid body tumor] who had attended the Surgical Outpatients Clinic, Zagazig University Hospital. Every patient was subjected to clinical evaluation, ultrasound, CT and carotid angiography. The results of the study revealed that the most common symptoms of these patients were neck mass [100%], hoarseness [12.5%] and dysphagia [12.5%]. The tumor was unilateral in all patients, the size of the tumor was less than 5 cm in 3 patients and greater than 5 cm in 5 patients. The mass was excised in all patients, subadvantetial resection in 5 patients and saphenous venous graft replacement in three patients. All specimens were benign [paraganglioma]. The postoperative neurological defect were hoarseness dysphagia and tongue deviation in three patients. It was concluded that surgery is an effective treatment for carotid body tumor. Early surgery was recommended because it minimizes the risk of complications associated with large size tumors