Swallowing‐Related Quality of Life After Carotid Body Tumor Resection: A Longitudinal Trajectory Analysis

Objectives To identify longitudinal swallowing‐related QoL trajectories after carotid body tumor (CBT) resection and explore associated characteristics. Methods A prospective study assessed swallowing‐related QoL using the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory at nine timepoints from preoperation to 12 months postdischarge. Latent growth mixture modeling (LGMM) identified heterogeneous trajectories. Results LGMM revealed two trajectories: “Stable High Swallowing‐Related QoL” ( n = 100, 91.7%), with minimal postoperative decline, and “Transient Low Swallowing‐Related QoL” ( n = 9, 8.3%), showing significant initial decline but near‐complete recovery within 3 months. The severe‐transient group had significantly higher rates of complex surgery (66.7% vs. 20.0%, p = 0.006), postoperative ICU admission (44.4% vs. 6.0%, p = 0.004), longer hospital stays (8.4 vs. 5.4 days, p = 0.002), and lower education levels ( p = 0.038). Conclusion Most patients maintain excellent swallowing‐related QoL post‐CBT resection. A distinct subgroup experiences a severe but transient decline, strongly associated with surgical complexity and an intensive postoperative course, enabling early risk stratification and personalized rehabilitation.