A retrospective study included 54 carotid body tumor resections in 49 patients, between 1980 and 2011. Data comprised early (< 1 month) and late (18 months) postoperative neurovascular complications.
Early postoperative complications occurred in 31 cases, including 30 cases of cranial nerve deficit (56%). Cranial nerve deficit occurred in 83% of Shamblin III carotid body paragangliomas and was associated with significantly larger mean tumor size (4 ± 1.4 cm versus 2.9 ± 1.3 cm; P < 0.01). Shamblin III tumor and tumor size > 3.2 cm emerged as predictive factors for early postoperative peripheral neurological complications. Eight patients (17%) showed no cranial nerve deficit recovery, even after 18 months’ follow-up; no predictive factors could be identified for this.
Surgical resection remains the only curative treatment in carotid body paraganglioma, with low vascular morbidity. However, early postoperative nerve deficit remains frequent (56%), although mostly temporary, with 17% definitive sequelae at 18 months. Tumor size and Shamblin classification are predictive of early neurovascular complications.