Surgical outcomes and factors associated with malignancy in carotid body tumors.

Abstract Objective To compare the surgical outcomes of benign and malignant carotid body tumor (CBT), and to evaluate the associated factors of malignant CBT. Methods Patients who underwent surgical resection of CBT from 2005 to 2018 in a tertiary center were retrospectively reviewed. The common study follow-up end date was December 31, 2019. The tumor size was measured as the maximum transverse diameter through computed tomography. Surgical outcomes of benign and malignant CBT were compared. Associated factors of malignancy were analyzed by multivariate logistic analysis. Results There were 229 patients undergoing CBT resection. Sixteen patients were diagnosed with malignant CBT. The median follow-up time was 66 (6-142) months. Basic information including age, sex, course of disease, family history, lesion side, tumor size, and Shamblin classification showed no significant difference between the benign and malignant CBT group. Patients with malignant CBTs showed a higher rate of preoperative symptoms (31.3% vs. 12.2%, p Conclusions Compared with benign CBT, malignant CBT is prone to invasive clinical behaviors, resulting in increased possibility of vascular reconstruction or repair during the surgery as well as postoperative neurological complications. What’s more, the malignant odds of CBT with bilateral lesions or CBT with preoperative symptoms are high.