Carotid body tumor

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Maria Fernanda Villarreal, M.D. [2]

Synonyms and keywords: Tumor of the carotid body;

Overview

Carotid body tumor (also known as carotid body paraganglioma) is a highly vascular glomus tumor that arises from the paraganglion cells of the carotid body. It is located at the carotid bifurcation with characteristic splaying of the internal carotid artery and external carotid artery. Carotid body tumor is classified into 3 categories: familial carotid body tumor, sporadic carotid body tumor, and hyperplastic carotid body tumor. The pathogenesis of carotid body tumor is characterized by the overgrowth from chemoreceptor paraganglioma cells. The genetic mutations associated with the development of carotid body tumor, include: MEN 2A, MEN 2B, and chromosome 3p25.5. Common causes of carotid body tumor, include: multiple endocrine neoplasia, phakomatoses, tuberous sclerosis complex (TS), neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), Von Hippel-Lindau disease (vHL), and the Carney triad. Carotid body tumors can be multicentric (35-50%) or familial (7-10%). In familial forms, carotid body tumors are usually autosomal dominant in inheritance, and associated with genetic syndromes. The estimated prevalence of carotid body tumor is approximately 1-2 cases per 100,000 individuals worldwide. Patients with carotid body tumor may be initially asymptomatic. Early clinical features include painless neck mass, dysphagia, and limited range of motion in the neck. If left untreated, the majority of patients with carotid body tumor may progress to develop neurological complications.[1] Transcervical surgery approach in conjunction with embolisation are the most common approaches to the treatment of carotid body tumor.[2]

Historical Perspective

  • Carotid body tumor was first described by Bungeler in 1952.[3]

Classification

  • Carotid body tumor is classified into 3 categories:
  • Familial carotid body tumor
  • Sporadic carotid body tumor
  • Hyperplastic carotid body tumor
  • Carotid body tumor is sub-classified into 2 categories:
  • Single
  • Bilateral
  • Carotid body tumor may also be classified according to Shamblin surgical classification into 3 subtypes: I, II, and III.[4]
  • Class I: localized with minimal vascular attachment
  • Class II: partially surrounds carotids.
  • Class III: encases carotids.
  • The image below demonstrates the distribution of carotid body tumors.

Pathophysiology

  • Carotid body tumor is a neuroendocrine neoplasm originating from carotid body.[6]
    • Carotid body is a component of the autonomic system derived from neural crest cells.
  • The overgrowth of chemoreceptor paraganglioma cells in the carotid body leads to the formation of carotid body tumor.
  • Carotid body tumors are normally located in the medial aspect adventitia of the carotid bifurcation.
  • The genetic mutations associated with the development of carotid body tumor, include:
  • MEN 2A
  • MEN 2B
  • Chromosome 3p25.5
  • On gross pathology, characteristic findings of carotid body tumor, include:
  • Dusky color
  • Highly vascular mass
  • On microscopic histopathological analysis, characteristic findings of carotid body tumor, include:
  • The images below demonstrate gross pathology and microscopic histopathological findings of the carotid body tumor.

Causes

  • Common causes of carotid body tumor, include:
  • Multiple endocrine neoplasia
  • Phakomatoses
  • Tuberous sclerosis complex (TS)
  • Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)
  • Von Hippel-Lindau disease (vHL)
  • Carney triad

Differentiating Carotid Body Tumor from Other Diseases

  • Carotid body tumor must be differentiated from other diseases that cause rounded neck mass, limited range of head motion, and dyspnea such as:[2]

Epidemiology and Demographics

  • The incidence of this tumor is less than 3 in 100,000 individuals.[9]
  • The prevalence of carotid body tumor is approximately 65% of all head and neck paraganglioma.
  • The estimated prevalence of carotid body tumor is approximately 1-2 cases per 100,000 individuals worldwide.
  • The incidence of carotid body tumor was estimated to be 0.012 cases per 100,000 individuals worldwide.[10]

Age

  • Carotid body tumor is more commonly observed among patients aged 40 to 50 years old.
  • Carotid body tumor is more commonly observed among adults.

Gender

  • Females are more commonly affected with carotid body tumor than males.

Race

  • There is no racial predilection for carotid body tumor.

Risk Factors

  • Common risk factors in the development of carotid body tumor, include:[2]
  • Genetic mutations in the following genes:
  • MEN 2A
  • MEN 2B
  • Chromosome 3p25.5

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

  • Patients with carotid body tumor may be initially asymptomatic.
  • Early clinical features include painless neck mass, dysphagia, and limited range of motion in the neck.
  • If left untreated, the majority of patients with carotid body tumor may progress to develop neurological complications.[1]
  • Common complications of carotid body tumor, include cranial nerve palsy, stroke, or Horner syndrome.[1]
  • Prognosis is generally poor, and the average 5 year survival rate of patients with carotid body tumor is approximately 25-40%.

Diagnosis

Diagnostic Criteria

  • The diagnosis of carotid body tumor is made with imaging findings:[2]
  • Lyre sign (see Imaging below)
  • Early vein due to arteriovenous shunting
  • Bright and rapid enhancement
  • Family history of the following syndromes (tuberous sclerosis complex, neurofibromatosis type 1, and Von Hippel-Lindau disease)

Symptoms

  • Carotid body tumor is usually asymptomatic.
  • Symptoms of carotid body tumor may include the following:[2]

Physical Examination

  • Patients with carotid body tumor usually appear pale or diaphoretic.
  • Physical examination may be remarkable for:

Palpation

  • Palpable painless and pulsatile mass
  • Enlarged anterior cervical or lateral cervical lymph nodes

Inspection

  • Limitation on neck range of motion
  • Pharyngeal bulge with displacement of the tonsil, soft palate, and uvula to the opposite side

Auscultation

Laboratory Findings

  • There are no specific laboratory findings associated with carotid body tumor.
  • In some cases, genetic testing may be useful for the detection of familiar syndromes related with carotid body tumors.

Imaging Findings

Ultrasound

  • Two-dimensional ultrasound-imaging, by itself, is not diagnostic, however, it may be helpful in the diagnosis of carotid body tumor.[11]
  • A solid, well-defined, hypoechoic lesion on ultrasound imaging.
  • This tumor also causes the displacement of the nearby structures
    • The external carotid artery is usually splayed anteriorly
    • The internal carotid artery and internal jugular vein are moved posteriorly
  • On color-doppler ultrasound imaging, the tumor appears hypervascular and the direction of blood flow in the tumor is upward at a greater extent.
    • It is of particular note that, although not common, the tumor may not be hypervascular.
  • The combination of B mode ultrasound imaging and color-doppler sonography has been observed to be diagnostic for this tumor.
  • Enhanced CT is the imaging modality of choice for carotid body tumor.
  • On CT scan, carotid body tumor is characterized by the following findings:[2]
  • Soft tissue density on non-contrast CT (similar to muscle)
  • Bright and rapid (faster than schwannoma) enhancement
  • Splaying of the internal carotid artery and external carotid artery.
  • Radiological signs for carotid body tumor, include:
  • Lyre sign : defined as the splaying of the internal and external carotid by a carotid body tumour (visible on CT angiography)
  • On MRI, findings of carotid body tumor, include:[2]
  • T1: iso to hypointense compared to muscle
  • Salt and pepper appearance when larger, representing a combination of punctate regions of haemorrhage or slow flow (salt) and flow voids (pepper)
  • Intense enhancement following gadolinium
  • T2: hyper intense compared to muscle
  • Salt and pepper appearance also seen on T2

Gallery

Other Diagnostic Studies

  • Carotid body tumor may also be diagnosed using angiogram.
  • Findings on angiogram may include:
  • Vascular blush
  • Splaying of the carotids

Treatment

Medical Therapy

  • There is no treatment for carotid body tumor; the mainstay of therapy is supportive care.
  • Radiotherapy is the treatment of choice for patients without surgery fitness (poor surgical candidates)

Surgery

  • Surgery is the mainstay of therapy for carotid body tumor.
  • Transcervical surgery approach in conjunction with embolisation are the most common approaches to the treatment of carotid body tumor.[2]
  • Stage III Shamblin carotid body tumors (greater than 5 cm) are eligible for surgery only.
  • The most common surgical complications of carotid body tumors is injury of the superior laryngeal nerve.

Prevention

  • There are no primary preventive measures available for carotid body tumor.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sen I, Stephen E, Malepathi K, Agarwal S, Shyamkumar NK, Mammen S (2013). "Neurological complications in carotid body tumors: a 6-year single-center experience". J. Vasc. Surg. 57 (2 Suppl): 64S–8S. doi:10.1016/j.jvs.2012.06.114. PMID 23336858.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Carotid body tumor. Dr Henry Knipe. Radiopedia. http://radiopaedia.org/articles/carotid-body-tumour Accessed on April 8, 2016
  3. Zak, Hyams, and Lawson, The Paraganglionic Chemoreceptor System: Physiology, Pathology and Clinical Medicine.
  4. Arya S, Rao V, Juvekar S, Dcruz AK (2008). "Carotid body tumors: objective criteria to predict the Shamblin group on MR imaging". AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 29 (7): 1349–54. doi:10.3174/ajnr.A1092. PMID 18417602.
  5. Distribution of paraganglioma. Radiopaedia 2015. Dr Yuranga Weerakkody and Assoc Prof Frank Gaillard et al. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraganglioma#/media/File:Paraganglioma_-_s100_-_very_high_mag.jpg. Accessed on November 23, 2015
  6. Boedeker CC, Ridder GJ, Schipper J (2005). "Paragangliomas of the head and neck: diagnosis and treatment". Fam. Cancer. 4 (1): 55–9. doi:10.1007/s10689-004-2154-z. PMID 15883711.
  7. Carotid body tumor. Dr Yuranga Weerakkody and Assoc Prof Frank Gaillard et al. Radiopaedia 2015. http://radiopaedia.org/articles/carotid-body-tumour. Accessed on December 7, 2015
  8. 8.0 8.1 Carotid body tumor. Wikipedi 2015. Accessed on November 23, 2015. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraganglioma#/media/File:Carotid_body_tumour_2_low_mag.jpg
  9. Gad, Amr; Sayed, Ahmed; Elwan, Hussein; Fouad, Fouad M.S.; Kamal Eldin, Hussein; Khairy, Hussein; Elhindawy, Khaled; Taha, Ahmed; Hefnawy, Engie (2014). "Carotid Body Tumors: A Review of 25 Years Experience in Diagnosis and Management of 56 Tumors". Annals of Vascular Diseases. 7 (3): 292–299. doi:10.3400/avd.oa.13-00116. ISSN 1881-641X.
  10. Grotemeyer D, Loghmanieh SM, Pourhassan S, Sagban TA, Iskandar F, Reinecke P, Sandmann W (2009). "[Dignity of carotid body tumors. Review of the literature and clinical experiences]". Chirurg (in German). 80 (9): 854–63. doi:10.1007/s00104-009-1724-x. PMID 19458915.
  11. Stoeckli, Sandro J.; Schuknecht, Bernhard; Alkadhi, Hatem; Fisch, Ugo (2002). "Evaluation of Paragangliomas Presenting as a Cervical Mass on Color-Coded Doppler Sonography". The Laryngoscope. 112 (1): 143–146. doi:10.1097/00005537-200201000-00025. ISSN 0023-852X.
  12. Carotid body tumor. Radiopaedia 2015. Case courtesy of Dr Andrew Lawson. http://radiopaedia.org/articles/carotid-body-tumour. Accessed on December 7, 2015
  13. Carotid body tumor angiography. Radiopaedia 2015. Accessed on November 23, 2015. http://radiopaedia.org/articles/carotid-body-tumour
  14. Carotid body tumor. Dr Yuranga Weerakkody and Assoc Prof Frank Gaillard et al. http://radiopaedia.org/articles/carotid-body-tumour. Accessed on December 7, 2015