Kim et al identified risk factors for complications after surgical resection of a carotid body tumor (CBT). These can help to identify a patient who may require from more aggressive postoperative management. The authors are from multiple institutions from around the world.
Patient selection: carotid body tumor (CBT)
Common complications: blood loss > 250 mL, cranial nerve injury, vascular injury
Less common complications: stroke, death
Parameters associated with the CBT:
(1) Shamblin class
(2) volume of the CBT (range from 1 to 1642 cubic cm)
(3) distance to the base of the skull (DTBOS): distance from the superior aspect of the CBT to the bone prominence at the base of the skull (in study range was 0 to 10 cm, mean 3.3 cm)
A CBT is usually an ellipsoid mass.
volume of an ellipsoid mass in cubic cm =
= 4/3 * PI() * (radius 1) * (radius 2) * (radius 3) =
= 4/3 * PI() * 1/8 * (diameter 1) * (diameter 2) * (diameter 3)
Predictors of complications:
(1) Shamblin class III > class II > class I
(2) increased tumor volume
(3) short DTBOS
Volume and DTBOS are continuous variables. For volume arbitrary cutoffs of >700 cc (based on Table II), 300 to 700 cc and < 300 cc used.
