gms | German Medical Science

Background: A carotid body tumor, also known as chemodectoma is a rare disease, a neoplastic tumor that occurs along the autonomic ganglion chain from the head to the pelvis. It can be associated with exposure to prolonged hypoxia including cyanotic heart disorders such as tetralogy Fallot. It is also a rare condition caused by a combination of four heart defects pulmonary valve stenosis, ventricular septal defect, overriding aorta, right ventricular hypertrophy that are present at birth.

Methods: A 68-year-old male presented with a cerebrovascular insult (CVI) in our emergency department. On CT scan was a highly vascularized mass located between external and internal carotid artery of the left side of the neck, and a clinical diagnosis of carotid body tumor was made. Patient medical history revealed that the patient is suffering from untreated tetralogy Fallot which first presented in early childhood with episodes of cyanosis. He was never treated for this condition.

Results: Operation of carotid body tumor was performed in local anaesthesia, tumor was removed and examined by pathologists and carotid paraganglioma was confirmed. The patient was without new neurological symptoms after surgery and his general condition was stable.

The patient is now without new symptoms and follow up is 12 weeks after carotid body surgery.

Conclusion: Although both tetralogy Fallot and carotid body tumor are very rare conditions, a patient can suffer from both at the same time, especially if cyanotic heart disorder is not treated because carotid body tumors are associated with prolonged exposure to hypoxia. Surgeons must be aware of this interconnection because it is much more difficult for both anesthesiologist and surgeon to perform surgery when these conditions are combined.

Figure 1 [Fig. 1], Figure 2 [Fig. 2]