Color Doppler Ultrasound in Diagnosis and Assessment of Carotid Body Tumors: Comparison with Computed Tomography Angiography

Perioperative Evaluation and Follow-Up Analysis of Carotid Body Tumor by Color Doppler Ultrasound

BACKGROUND

The value of color doppler ultrasound (CDU) for perioperative evaluation and follow-up outcomes of carotid body tumor (CBT) remains elusive. This study aimed to investigate the role of CDU in CBT in our center.

METHODS

From January 2015 to December 2020, 75, patients with CBT were included in the study. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) and CDU data of patients were collected and analyzed. The postoperative recovery and follow-up outcomes were summarized.

RESULTS

A total of 91 CBTs in 75 patients were included in the study. 73.3% of the patients had unilateral lesions, while 26.7% had bilateral lesions. Lesions were categorized as Shamblin I (4.4%), Shamblin II (52.7%), and Shamblin III (42.9%). 79.5% lesions were treated by surgical resection, 12.3% were treated by surgical resection with internal carotid artery reconstructed by artificial vessel, while 8.2% were treated by surgical resection with internal carotid artery reconstructed by autogenous great saphenous vein. Compared with CTA, the sensitivity of CDU for the detection of CBT was 96.7%, the sensitivity and specificity of CDU for the detection of Shamblin I lesions were both 100%, the sensitivity and specificity for Shamblin II were 100% and 72.1%, respectively, while the sensitivity and specificity for Shamblin III were 69.2% and 100%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between CTA and CDU for the detection of the maximal diameter, volume of CBT, distance between the end of the tumor, and the mastoid process. 79.7% of the patients were followed up with CDU. The eecurrence of CBT occurred in 1 patient. CDU showed that stenosis and occlusion of artificial vessel occurred in 1 and 6 patients, respectively. The occlusion of autogenous great saphenous vein was found in 2 cases.

CONCLUSIONS

CDU can accurately diagnose Shamblin I CBT, have high sensitivity for Shamblin II, and high specificity for Shamblin III CBT. It plays an important role in diagnosis, perioperative evaluation, and follow-up analysis of CBT.

Doppler ultrasonographic evaluation of tissue revascularization following connective tissue graft at implant sites

AIM

To assess the Doppler ultrasonographic tissue perfusion at dental implant sites augmented with connective tissue graft (CTG) using coronally advanced flap (CAF) or tunnel technique (TUN).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-eight patients presenting with isolated healthy peri-implant soft-tissue dehiscence (PSTD) were included in this randomized clinical trial. PSTDs were treated with either CAF + CTG or TUN + CTG. Ultrasound scans were taken at baseline, 1 week, 1 month, 6 months and 12 months. Tissue perfusion at the mid-facial, mesial and distal aspects of the implant sites was assessed by colour Doppler velocity (CDV) and power Doppler imaging (PDI). Early vascularization of the graft and the flap at 1 week and at 1 month were evaluated via dynamic tissue perfusion measurements (DTPMs), including flow intensity (FI), mean perfusion relief intensity (pRI) and mean perfused area (pA).

RESULTS

Regression analysis did not reveal significant differences in terms of mid-facial CDV and PDI changes between CAF and TUN over 12 months (p > .05), while significant differences between the two groups were observed at the interproximal areas (p < .001 for both CDV and PDI changes). Higher early DTPMs were observed at the TUN-treated sites in terms of mean FI of the graft (p = .027) and mean FI (p = .024) and pRI of the flap (p = .031) compared with CAF-treated sites at 1 week. Assessment of the FI direction showed that CTG perfusion at 1 week and at 1 month mainly occurred from the flap towards the implant/bone. Early tissue perfusion outcomes were found to be associated with the 12-month mean PSTD coverage and mucosal thickness gain.

CONCLUSIONS

Doppler ultrasonography shows tissue perfusion changes occurring at implant sites augmented with CTG. The main differences in tissue perfusion between CAF and TUN were observed at the interproximal sites, with early perfusion associated with clinical and volumetric outcomes at 12 months.

Proteomics analysis of carotid body tumor revealed potential mechanisms and molecular differences among Shamblin classifications

Carotid body tumors (CBTs) are a rare type of paraganglioma, and surgical resection is the only effective treatment. Because of the proximity of CBTs to the carotid artery, jugular vein, and cranial nerve, surgery is extremely difficult, with high risks of hemorrhage and neurovascular injury. The Shamblin classification is used for CBT clinical evaluation; however, molecular mechanisms underlying classification differences remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate pathogenic mechanisms and molecular differences between CBT types. In Shamblin I, II, and III tumors, differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified using direct data-independent acquisition (DIA). DEPs were validated using immunohistochemistry. Proteomics profiling of three Shamblin subtypes differed significantly. Bioinformatics analysis showed that adrenomedullin signaling, protein kinase A signaling, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling, ephrin receptor signaling, gap junction signaling, interleukin (IL)-1 signaling, actin cytoskeleton signaling, endothelin-1 signaling, angiopoietin signaling, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling, hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) signaling, and IL-6 signaling pathways were significantly enriched. Furthermore, 60 DEPs changed significantly with tumor progression. Immunohistochemistry validated several important DEPs, including aldehyde oxidase 1 (AOX1), mediator complex subunit 22 (MED22), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A), and heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1). To our knowledge, this is the first application of proteomics quantification in CBT. Our results will deepen the understanding of CBT-related pathogenesis and aid in identifying therapeutic targets for CBT treatment.

The value of ultrasound for the preoperative assessment of carotid body tumors

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the value of ultrasound (US) examination for the preoperative assessment of carotid body tumors (CBTs) and to predict surgical outcomes.

METHODS

A total of 15 CBT lesions in 15 patients were included in this study. CBT measurements determined using US, and included maximal diameter, volume, tumor distance to base of skull (DTBOS), and carotid wall infiltration. A correlation analysis was conducted to determine the correlation between US measurements and surgical outcomes, including estimated blood loss (EBL), cranial nerve injury, surgical time, and hospital length of stay (HLOS).

RESULTS

EBL showed a high level of correlation with the maximal dimeter (r = 0.596, p < .05) and the volume of the tumor (r = 0.864, p < .05). Surgical time was positively correlated with tumor volume (r = 0.592, p < .05) and negatively correlated with DTBOS (r = -0.554, p < .05). There was no significant correlation (p > .05) shown between cranial nerve injury and US variables. HLOS showed the high degree of correlation with the maximal dimeter (r = 0.658, p < .05), and was also negatively correlated with DTBOS (r = -0.620, p < .00).

CONCLUSIONS

US examination allows for the visualization of features of CBTs, which is a useful and safe tool to be used to predict surgical outcomes. Further research is necessary to validate this exploration method for the preoperative assessment of CBTs.

Comparison of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography to Color Doppler Ultrasound in Evaluation of Carotid Body Tumors

Objective

The objectives of this study were to prospectively 1) explore the characteristics and enhanced patterns of carotid body tumors (CBTs) at color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) qualitatively and quantitatively and 2) compare CDU and CEUS for their morphology and vascularity signature.

Methods

CDU and CEUS with Sonovue^® were used to evaluate 25 CBT lesions. The comparison between these ultrasonic modalities included the size, Shamblin type, vascularity, and feeding vessels of the lesion areas. The time–intensity curve (TIC) analysis was used to obtain the dynamics of the contrast-enhancement features of CBTs.

Results

The TIC analysis presented a fast wash-in [wash-in time: 3.00 ± 1.10 s, mean ± SD] and slow wash-out [wash-out time: 58.79 ± 24.21 s, mean ± SD] pattern in the CBT lesions, with a high area under the curve (AUC) of 669.68 ± 143.46 mm² (mean ± SD). In comparison with CDU, CEUS was superior in identifying Shamblin type I or III CBT lesions (χ² = 17.389, p=0.002). It detected a significant difference in the AUC between moderate and marked vascularity groups (563.33 ± 102.63 vs. 707.22 ± 138.81, t=-2.311, p=0.031.), while CDU observed no significant difference between these two groups. Although CDU was more sensitive than CEUS in detecting feeding vessels (100% vs. 88%), CEUS better visualized the origins of feeding vessels (χ² = 9.162, p=0.010).

Conclusion

CEUS can better investigate the Shamblin type and vascularity of CBT lesions than CDU. CBTs displayed a fast wash-in, slow wash-out pattern with high AUC in the TIC analysis in the CEUS mode. CDU is more sensitive in detecting feeding vessels than CEUS, while CEUS can better visualize the origins of feeding vessels.

Doppler ultrasound appearance of neck tumors

Aim: The purpose of this study was the evaluation of the sonographic appearance of neck tumors and determining the features useful in differential diagnosis. Material and method: The studied group consisted of 57 patients: 16 patients with carotid body tumors, 9 patients with neurogenic tumors, 8 patients with venous anomalies, 12 patients with neck cysts, 6 patients with lipomas, 5 patients with extracranial carotid artery aneurysms and 1 with a laryngocele. Results: All carotid paragangliomas were located within the carotid bifurcation and demonstrated rich low-resistance vascular flow, with higher maximum velocity and lower flow resistance parameters registered in the ipsilateral external carotid artery. In 7 out of 9 cases, neurogenic tumors were homogeneous, and in the remaining 2 cases – heterogeneous. Four schwannomas were hypervascular or showed moderate vascularity, and the rest of neurogenic tumors were hypovascular or avascular, with symmetrical maximum velocity and resistance values of carotid blood flow. Apart from one branchial cleft cyst with multiple fine internal acoustic reflexes, all other neck cysts were anechoic and avascular, and presented with posterior acoustic enhancement. The laryngocele presented as a well-demarcated, hypoechoic, homogeneous lesion located in the immediate proximity of the larynx, without signs of internal vascular flow. Lipomas were well-demarcated, homogeneous, hypoechoic tumors with regular margins, without signs of internal vascular flow. Venous malformations presented as irregular, hypoechoic spaces with venous blood flow, easily compressed by the probe. Extracranial carotid artery aneurysms were hypoechoic, well-defined spaces, which presented with slow internal, turbulent flow on Doppler study, and showed continuity with the carotid artery. Conclusions: Doppler ultrasound allows to visualize features characteristic for certain neck tumors. Solid or cystic structure, echogenicity, localization, as well as internal flow signals and vascularity pattern create a combination of ultrasound findings helpful in the differential diagnosis of lesions such as paragangliomas, venous malformations, neurogenic tumors, aneurysms, cysts and laryngoceles.

Anesthetic approaches in carotid body tumor surgery

OBJECTIVE

Carotid body tumors (CBT) are benign tumors that originate from neural non-chromaffin cells that are typically localized near carotid bifurcation. Surgical removal of the tumor is the most appropriate treatment. General anesthesia is preferred anesthetic technique for CBT surgery. Basic elements of anesthetic management are protection of hemodynamic stability and maintaining cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP). The aim of this study was to evaluate anesthetic management of CBT surgery and present the literature knowledge.

METHODS

The study included 10 consecutive patients with diagnosis of CBT who underwent surgery at Antalya Training and Research Hospital, in Antalya, Turkey, between 2013 and 2016. Preoperative demographic details; comorbidities; side of surgical site; duration of operation; length of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay; change of intraoperative blood pressure; use of inotropic drugs, blood products, and analgesics; postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score; and complications were recorded.

RESULTS

According to Shamblin classification, 3 tumors were type I and the remaining 7 were type II. Tumors were located on right side in 6 patients, and on left in 4. Blood loss sufficient to require transfusion was observed in 1 patient. Average intraoperative blood loss was 287±68 mL. Tachycardia and hypertension were observed in 1 patient; bradycardia and hypotension were seen in 4 patients. Infusion for inotropic support was administered to 1 patient. Mean duration of operation was 109±20 minutes. Mean VAS score was 4±1, mean ICU tramadol consumption was 80±25 mg. Duration of stay in ICU and hospital were 2.4±1.1 hours and 3.8±0.7 days, respectively. Mortality and neurological complications were not seen in postoperative period.

CONCLUSION

CBT surgery requires close and complex anesthesia management. Protection of hemodynamic stability against sudden hemodynamic changes, monitoring, and maintaining CPP are the most important aspects of anesthetic management.