RADIOTHERAPY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CHEMODECTOMAS OF THE CAROTID-BODY AND GLOMUS VACALE

Background. Because only limited data are available pertaining to radi otherapy for chemodectomas of the carotid body and glomus vagale, we r eviewed our experience. Methods. Fifteen patients with 23 chemodectoma s of either the carotid body or glomus vagale were treated with radiot herapy at the University of Florida between 1981 and 1995. Eighteen le sions were previously untreated. One patient had received prior radiot herapy at another institution and four patients had received prior sur gery. Results. The local control rate at 10 years, calculated by the K aplan-Meier product-limit method, was 96% for the overall group of 23 lesions and 100% for the subset of 22 lesions without prior radiothera py. The 10-year cause-specific survival rate was 89% for all 15 patien ts and 100% for the 14 patients who had received no prior radiotherapy . No patient experienced a significant complication secondary to irrad iation. Conclusions. Irradiation offers a high probability of tumor co ntrol with relatively minimal risks for patients with chemodectomas of the carotid body and glomus vagale. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.