Carotid Body Tumor - radiological imaging and genetic assessment.

Carotid Body Tumor i.e. Paraganglioma is a challenging entity from the point of multidisciplinary diagnosis. The main treatment option i.e. surgery yields intraoperative risk,related to cranial nerve palsy and vascular morbidity.Bifurcation of Common Carotid Artery especially at the Carotid Body is the place where Head and Neck Paraganglioma is most frequently seen i.e. 60% of incidence [19]. Indeed, the knowledge of genetic germline SDH mutations, which cause deregulation of hypoxia-induced factors yields better understanding of the tumor nature. It is recommended to conduct selective neck dissection in regions IIA, IIB, III to exlude malignant transformation and metastasis, due to malignant potential of Carotid Body Tumors, especially in case of SDHB mutation. SDHD mutation is the main cause of hereditary HNPGLs. Computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and angiography yield thorough assessment of paraganglioma extension. In large size tumors, embolization of supplying artery under guidance of angiography may be considered. In case of Carotid Body Tumor, differential diagnosis should include: carotid artery aneurysm, lymphadenopathy, Schwannoma of the hypoglossal nerve or acessory thyroid gland.

Preoperative assessment of the risk of cavernous ICA injury in endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery.

In endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal procedures, ICA injury occurs in up to 3.8% [1]. The highest hazard of injury is in case of contact between the ICA and pituitary gland, during opening of the dura. Preoperative imaging, i.e. CTA, MRA, supports objectively intraoperative techniques of imaging. CTA as well as MRA are essential to access anatomic details in variability of cavernous segments of the ICA (C4 ICA). The aim of the study was to measure the space between Internal Carotid Arteries and distances between the pituitary gland and ICA on both sides. Anatomic relations between left and right ICAs were accessed on CTA (coronal scans) at levels: A - The most concave point of the C4-C5 bend; B - The most convex point of the C4 bend; C - The C4 posterior ascending portion. Distances between pituitary gland and ICAs were measured on both sides on MRA (axial scans): A' - The most concave point of C4-C5 bend; B' - The most convex point of the C4 bend. The Statistica 13 (StatSoft) software was used for the statistical analysis. The Mann-Whitney U test was applied to determine differences between the groups. To analyze the strength of correlations between the quantitative variables, Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were calculated. The results were considered statistically significant at the level of P < 0.05. Distance reduction was shown between pituitary glands and cavernous segment (C4) of ICAs on both sides, which is related to age. This has impact on surgical planning and highlights the risk of intraoperative injury of ICAs.