Search

OBJECTIVE Carotid body tumors (CBTs) are rare, slow-growing neoplasms derived from the parasympathetic paraganglia of the carotid bodies. Although inherently vascular lesions, the role of preoperative embolization prior to resection remains controversial. In this report, the authors describe an institutional series of patients with CBT successfully treated via resection following preoperative embolization and compare the results in this series to previously reported outcomes in the treatment of CBT. METHODS All CBTs resected between 2013 and 2019 at a single institution were retrospectively identified. All patients had undergone preoperative embolization performed by interventional neuroradiologists, and all had been operated on by a combined team of cerebrovascular neurosurgeons and otolaryngology–head and neck surgeons. The clinical, radiographic, endovascular, and perioperative data were collected. All procedural complications were recorded. RESULTS Among 22 patients with CBT, 63.6% were female and the median age was 55.5 years at the time of surgery. The most common presenting symptoms included a palpable neck mass (59.1%) and voice changes (22.7%). The average tumor volume was 15.01 ± 14.41 cm3. Most of the CBTs were Shamblin group 2 (95.5%). Blood was predominantly supplied from branches of the ascending pharyngeal artery, with an average of 2 vascular pedicles (range 1–4). Fifty percent of the tumors were embolized with more than one material: polyvinyl alcohol, 95.5%; Onyx, 50.0%; and N-butyl cyanoacrylate glue, 9.1%. The average reduction in tumor blush following embolization was 83% (range 40%–95%). No embolization procedural complications occurred. All resections were performed within 30 hours of embolization. The average operative time was 173.9 minutes, average estimated blood loss was 151.8 ml, and median length of hospital stay was 4 days. The rate of permanent postoperative complications was 0%; 2 patients experienced transient hoarseness, and 1 patient had medical complications related to alcohol withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS This series reveals that endovascular embolization of CBT is a safe and effective technique for tumor devascularization, making preoperative angiography and embolization an important consideration in the management of CBT. Moreover, the successful management of CBT at the authors’ institution rests on a multidisciplinary approach whereby endovascular surgeons, neurosurgeons, and ear, nose, and throat–head and neck surgeons work together to optimally manage each patient with CBT.

OBJECTIVE Chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) is a common and challenging pathology to treat due to both the historically high recurrence rate following surgical evacuation and the medical comorbidities inherent in the aging patient population that it primarily affects. Middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization has shown promise in the treatment of cSDHs, most convincingly to avoid surgical evacuation in relatively asymptomatic patients. Symptomatic patients requiring surgical evacuation may also benefit from perioperative MMA embolization to prevent cSDH recurrence. The goal of this study was to determine the utility of perioperative MMA embolization for symptomatic cSDH requiring surgical evacuation and to assess if there is a decrease in the cSDH recurrence rate compared to historical recurrence rates following surgical evacuation alone. METHODS Symptomatic cSDHs were evacuated using a subdural evacuating port system (SEPS) with 5-mm twist-drill craniostomy in an intensive care unit or by performing a craniotomy in the operating room, using either a small (silver dollar, < 4 cm) or large (≥ 4 cm) craniotomy. MMA embolization was performed perioperatively using angiography, selective catheterization of the MMA, and infusion of polyvinyl particles. Outcomes were assessed clinically and radiographically with interval head CT imaging. RESULTS There were 44 symptomatic cSDHs in 41 patients, with 3 patients presenting with bilateral symptomatic cSDH. All cSDHs were evacuated using an SEPS (n = 18), a silver-dollar craniotomy (n = 16), or a large craniotomy (n = 10). Prophylactic MMA embolization was performed successfully in all cSDHs soon after surgical evacuation. There were no deaths and no procedural complications. There was an overall reduction of greater than 50% or resolution of cSDH in 40/44 (90.9%) cases, regardless of the evacuation procedure used. Of the 44 prophylactic cases, there were 2 (4.5%) cases of cSDH recurrence that required repeat surgical evacuation at the 1-year follow-up. These 2 cSDHs were initially evacuated using an SEPS and subsequently required a craniotomy, thereby representing an overall 4.5% recurrence rate of treated cSDH requiring repeat evacuation. Most notably, of the 26 patients who underwent surgical evacuation with a craniotomy followed by MMA embolization, none had cSDH recurrence requiring repeat intervention. CONCLUSIONS Perioperative prophylactic MMA embolization in the setting of surgical evacuation, via either craniotomy or SEPS, may help to lower the recurrence rate of cSDH.