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. 2023 Jun;3(2):100185.
doi: 10.1016/j.avsurg.2023.100185. Epub 2023 Mar 11.

Resection of a hormonally active carotid body tumor

Megan Evans  1 , Samantha Minc  2 , Maxwell Almenoff  2
Affiliations

Resection of a hormonally active carotid body tumor

Megan Evans et al. Ann Vasc Surg Brief Rep Innov. 2023 Jun.

Abstract

Treatment of carotid body tumors (CBTs) can be complicated by the presence of hormonal activity. This case describes the treatment of a 65-year-old woman that presented with an abnormally high blood pressure and was found to have a neck mass. Diagnostic imaging along with urine metanephrines revealed this mass to be a hormonally active CBT. Careful resection along with preoperative treatment with an alpha blockade allowed for a successful complete removal of the tumor without any complications. Although CBTs tend to be benign, and hormonally active tumors are rare, one must always maintain a level of suspicion of hormonal activity to prevent catastrophic operative events.

Keywords: Carotid body tumor; Metanephrine; Neuroendocrine tumors; Paraganglioma.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests Samantha Minc reports financial support was provided by National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Samantha Minc reports financial support was provided by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
a, b, and c. CT imaging of carotid body tumor.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Intraoperative view of carotid body tumor prior to resection.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
a and b. Intraoperative view of carotid body tumor after resection with identification and isolation of external carotid artery (white umbilical tape), internal carotid artery (red vessel loop), vagus nerve (black silk tie), and hypoglossal nerve (yellow vessel loop).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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