A patient with bilateral carotid-body tumours is being considered for staged surgery. Why is simultaneous bilateral excision hazardous beyond cranial-nerve injury?
Carotid bodies sense hypoxaemia and contribute to ventilatory drive. Bilateral denervation may cause blunted hypoxic response, labile hypertension and baroreflex-related morbidity.
A. It causes conductive deafness: The middle ear is not involved.
B. It abolishes thyroid hormone synthesis: The carotid body is not thyroid tissue.
C. Loss of carotid chemoreceptor function can impair ventilatory responses and blood-pressure regulation: Carotid bodies sense hypoxaemia and contribute to ventilatory drive. Bilateral denervation may cause blunted hypoxic response, labile hypertension and baroreflex-related morbidity.
D. It guarantees recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy: That nerve is not obligatorily sacrificed, though lower cranial nerves are at risk.
E. It prevents salivation: Salivary autonomic pathways are not the primary issue.
If only one small tumour were treated and the contralateral side remained intact, physiological risk would be lower, though neurovascular risk persists.
Independent Clinora educational preparation material; not official JCIE content, an accredited programme, clinical advice, or a substitute for current guidance, local policy and specialist judgement.
Back to the Section 1 bank