Carotid Body Enlargement in Patients with Hypertension and Comorbid Diseases: a CT Angiographic Study

Aim: To determine the carotid body (CB) size and its relationship with hypertension, other sympathetically mediated disorders and smoking. Materials and Methods: Neck CT angiographies of 180 patients performed in our clinic in the previous year were included in the study. The patients' histories were assessed for hypertension (HT), congestive heart failure (CHF), diabetes mellitus (DM), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and smoking. The study groups were smokers without any chronic condition (S group, n=21), patients with HT alone (HT group, n=26), patients that had at least two chronic disorders (CD+S group, n=78) and the controls (n=33). The widest axial diameter of the CB was measured on axial sections. Results: CB diameter could be measured in 158 patients. The CB diameter was significantly greater in HT (2.77±3.28 mm, p=0.02) and CD+S (2.76±3.38 mm, p