Carotid Body tumor

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION1

DISCUSSION1

Cardiac tumors1

Etiology of Carotid body tumors2

Risk factors2

Symptomatology2

Modes of Sonography3

Doppler assessments3

M-mode Image3

2D or B-mode/Gray scale4

Treatment and Medications4

Surgery interventions5

Patho physiologic affects5

CONCLUSION6

REFERENCES7

Carotid Body tumor

Introduction

A carotid body tumor is also known as chemo dectoma or paraganglioma is a tumor which lies in the upper neck where the carotid artery divides into branches. Von Haller in 1743 first described the carotid body tumor. Other terms used to describe carotid bodies are chemo dectomas, peritheliomas, endothelioma glomus caroticum and paragangliomas. As we know carotid arteries are located on each side of the neck, it is responsible for supplying blood to front, huge portions of the brain, where communication, personality, thinking, sensory functions and motor functions resides.

Discussion

The carotid body is a tiny bunch of chemo receptors near the carotid artery supporting the cells (usually running down both sides of neck) regulates Autonomic nervous system, detects fluctuations in the arterial blood composition flowing through it, mainly oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressure is detected. It is also sensitive to changes in temperature and PH. These chemo receptors are sensitive to changes in blood pressure, blood osmolarity (salt content) and blood flow. It sends signals to the brain that result in changes in respiratory rate and cardiac output. Factors such as increased temperature of blood, cyanide and nicotine causes stimulation of carotid body.

Cardiac tumors

The heart is rarely affected by primary and secondary tumors. They usually occupy and arise from pericardial or myocardial tissues. Secondary tumors may occur by haematogenous spread or local extension. Cardiac tumors cause signs and a symptom that mimics other cardiac diseases and represents a significant diagnostic challenge. The carotid body tumor mainly affects the cardiac output.

Etiology of Carotid body tumors

Carotid body tumors are very rare, with prevalence of 1 to 2 per 100,000 populations. 65% of neck and head paragangliomas have Carotid body tumors. It over responses to homeostatic changes, "Carotid body tumors" (CBT) are considered to be a disease of middle age but it can occur in children too. The mean age of onset is reported to be 45 years (Sevilla Garcia MA et al, 2007) these tumors are inherited in 10% of cases, typically in younger age (Jani P, et al 2008). Prevalence of these tumors is higher in patients living on higher Altitude and people who smoke.5-10% of cases of Carotid body tumor is malignant where as 5% are bilateral.

Risk factors

The two main known risk factors for the occurring of a carotid body tumor are the presence of chronic hypoxic stimulation due to any cause and genetic predisposition. Person living on mountainous areas and high altitudes and those having lung diseases such as Chronic Obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overstrain the carotid bodies leading to hyperplasia of the principal cells present in carotid.

Symptomatology

They usually present as asymptomatic palpable mass in the anterior neck which is severely painful. Some of the patients present with cranial nerve palsy with paralysis of the hypoglossal, glosso pharyngeal, recurrent laryngeal, or spinal accessory nerve, or involvement of ...