Surgical and Histopathological Results in Carotid Body Tumors.

Objective:  The possible relationships between the histopathological findings of carotid body tumors and age, gender, tumor diameter, and Shamblin classification were investigated. In addition, preoperative embolization status, development of neurological complications, need for vascular reconstruction, hemoglobin change, and discharge time were examined and the effects of these variables on each other were analyzed.

Methods:  Between 2008 and 2022, 46 cases who underwent carotid body tumor excision were examined retrospectively. The cases were followed for an average of 81 months postoperatively. Histopathological materials were reexamined and the effect of categorical variables was analyzed.

Results:  Mean tumor diameter was 3.55 ± 1.26 cm, mean discharge time was 3.91 ± 2.37 days, and mean hemoglobin change was 1.86 ± 1.25. Neurological complications developed in 13% of cases. The amount of hemoglobin change was significantly (p = 0.003) higher in those who developed neurological complications, whereas the tumor diameter and discharge time were found to be insignificantly higher. Surgical complications requiring vascular repair occurred in 10.8% of cases. Tumor diameter (p = 0.017) and hemoglobin change (p = 0.046) were significantly higher in these patients. There were significant correlations between higher Shamblin classification and tumor diameter, discharge time, postoperative hemoglobin value, and number of surgical and neurological complications. No significant difference was found between K_i-67, capsular invasion, mitosis, pleomorphism, prominent nucleoli, mean island diameter, and tendency of islands to merge with categorical variables.

Conclusion:  As the tumor diameter increases, the operation becomes more difficult and the postoperative complication rate increases. We think that subadventitial and capsular removal of the tumor is effective in preventing recurrence. To reach a histopathological conclusion, a larger series of studies including tumors with high K_i-67 and mitosis rates, large size, and one or more of the criteria for necrosis are needed.