Background:

Glomus or carotid body tumors (CBTs), also known as chemodectomas or paragangliomas, are generally benign. Diagnosis is based on imaging studies, with angiography being the gold standard. Definitive treatment is surgical resection. Associated complications include cranial nerve injury, arterial rupture, cerebrovascular events (CVE), and death.

Objective:

To determine the prevalence of complications associated with carotid body tumor resection.

Methods:

Analytical retrospective study. Records of patients who underwent CBT resection from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2020, were evaluated.

Results:

Thirty one patients who underwent CBT resection were evaluated, with 94% being female. They were divided into group 1 (CBT without complications, n = 13) and group 2 (CBT with complications, n = 18). Complications included vascular 36%, and nerve injury in 23%.

Conclusions:

Vascular injuries were the main complication in our study (36%), although they were transient. Nerve injuries were permanent in 7% of cases.