什么是颈动脉体瘤？
Carotid body tumor arises from the neural crest cells in the neck. It is a type of paragangliomas. It normally grows near the carotid artery bifurcation. It is benign and only 5 % can be malignant. The growth rate is very slow and it grows less than 1 mm per year.
颈动脉体在我们体内有什么作用？
The carotid body is a small gland which helps to regulate the oxygen, carbon dioxide and pH and helps to prevent organs from hypoxic damage by releasing neurotransmitter to the body.
它是如何呈现的？
这种情况在女性中的出现率略高于男性，一般人群中大约每 10 万人中就有 2 人出现这种情况。
通常情况下，它是无症状的，患者会发现颈部有一个大肿块。也可在颈部超声检查或 CT 检查时偶然发现。
随着肿块越来越大，5～10 %病例可出现脑神经损伤。
颈动脉体肿瘤有哪些类型？
颈动脉体肿瘤有多种类型：家族性、散发性和增生性。
最常见的是散发性的，占所有肿瘤的 85 %。
Familial tends to happen in younger population and hyperplastic type happens in people who lives in high altitudes like 5000 feet above sea level.
有什么治疗方法？
Treatment is mostly surgical excision although some cases when surgery is not possible, radiotherapy can be used.
有哪些并发症？
Complications are between 2 to 5 % in experienced hands. Complications are major nerve injuries. This may affect the facial muscles as well as swallowing. In extreme cases, patient can get stroke as well as uncontrolled blood pressure and even carotid artery injury.
颈动脉体肿瘤术前示意图
颈动脉体肿瘤切除后颈动脉重建图
