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Feasibility of a wait‐and‐scan period as initial management strategy for head and neck paraganglioma
Author(s) -
Jansen Thijs T. G.,
Timmers Henri J. L. M.,
Marres Henri A. M.,
Kunst Henricus P. M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.24871
Subject(s) - medicine , paraganglioma , head and neck , retrospective cohort study , cohort , head and neck cancer , surgery , radiology , nuclear medicine , radiation therapy
Abstract Background The main goal of head and neck paraganglioma (PGL) management is reduction of treatment‐induced and tumor‐induced complications. In the current study, tumor growth rates and tumor‐induced complications during a wait‐and‐scan period are evaluated. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study. Tumor growth was measured in axial plane diameter and tumor volume. Results Of 59 jugulotympanic tumors, 71 carotid body tumors, and 29 vagal body tumors, 44% were growing (median follow‐up of 63.6 months). Median growth rates were 0.41 mm/year (range 0–439 mm), 1.6 mm/year (range 0–23.68 mm), and 1.6 mm/year (range 0–23.68 mm) respectively. Growth was significantly correlated to age at presentation (odds ratio [OR] = 0.974; P < .05). Seventeen tumors induced 20 complications. Six of these tumors were growing, and growth rates were higher than in tumors not inducing complications ( P = .016; F = 6.496). Conclusion These results illustrate the feasibility of a wait‐and‐scan strategy for head and neck PGL. The management strategy could not prevent tumor‐induced complications in 16% of nongrowing tumors.