Description

Kim et al identified predictors for complications following resection of a carotid body tumor. This can help to identify a patient who may benefit from more aggressive management. The authors are from multiple institutions in the United States and Europe.


Complications included:

(1) blood loss

(2) cranial nerve palsy: hypoglossal, vagal, superior laryngeal (which is a branch of the vagus nerve), glosspharyngeal, other

 

Risk factors for blood loss:

(1) greater tumor volume

(2) Shamblin grade (III > II > I)

(3) shorter distance to the base of the skull (DTBOS)

 

Risk factors for cranial nerve palsy:

(1) Shamblin grade (III > II > I)

(2) distance to the base of the skull (DTBOS)

 

Volume of the tumor is approximated by an ellipsoid with:

volume = 4/3 * PI() (radius 1) * (radius 2) * (radius 3)


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