Objective: By reviewing the clinical material in 23 cases (25 tumors) of carotid body tumors, we concluded our experience in selecting the appropriate diagnostic modality and surgical therapy to facilitate surgical maneuvers and decrease the incidence of postoperative complications.
Method: From 2003 to 2008, 23 cases of carotid body tumors were admitted and treated in Wuhan Union Hospital. All the 23 cases were operated after determining diagnosis that was deterred by angiography and noninvasive examinations including color Doppler scan, computed tomography angiography and magnetic resonance angiography.
Result: There was no patient died, no cerebral infarctions, no recurrence after operation. Nervous complications occurred in 5 cases post operatively.
Conclusion: Preoperative angiography is a appropriate diagnostic modality for carotid body tumor, which can shows the supply arteries of the tumor and estimate the structure of the Willis Circle, so that we can judge the possibility to temporarily clamp the carotid artery during the operation to control the hemorrhage and eliminate the postoperative nervous complications.