The Relationship Between Tumor Size and Electrocardiographic Findings in Carotid Body Paragangliomas: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Abstract

Objective: Carotid body tumors (CBTs) are rare neurogenic tumors that may indirectly affect cardiac autonomic regulation. This study aims to investigate the relationship between tumor size and electrocardiographic (ECG) findings, particularly the corrected QT (QTc) interval.

Methods: This retrospective study included 21 patients with histologically or radiologically confirmed CBTs treated at a tertiary center between 2021 and 2025. Patients with comorbidities or medications affecting cardiac conduction were excluded. Tumor sizes were measured via contrast-enhanced computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Preoperative ECGs were analyzed for heart rate, P wave, PR, QRS, T wave, and QTc intervals. The correlation between tumor size and ECG parameters was assessed using Spearman's rank correlation.

Results: A statistically significant and strong positive correlation was observed between tumor size and QTc interval (r = 0.940, P < .001). No other ECG parameter showed a significant association with tumor size. Tumor size explained 88.36% of the variance in QTc duration (r² = 0.8836).

Conclusion: This study demonstrates a strong correlation between CBT size and QTc prolongation, suggesting vagal overactivity as a possible mechanism. QTc may serve as a noninvasive marker of subclinical autonomic dysregulation in CBT patients. Larger prospective studies are warranted to validate this association and explore its clinical significance.