Carotid body size measured by computed tomographic angiography in individuals born prematurely

•The ability to identify carotid bodies with computed tomography is reduced in juvenile patients born prematurely.•Carotid body volume was related to gestational age but not birth weight.•Few major medical institutions record birth history information.•Routine collection of birth history data is critical to leveraging large data sets. We tested the hypothesis that the carotid bodies would be smaller in individuals born prematurely or exposed to perinatal oxygen therapy when compared individuals born full term that did not receive oxygen therapy. A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients who underwent head/neck computed tomography angiography (CTA) at the Mayo Clinic between 10 and 40 years of age (n = 2503). Patients were identified as premature ( 0.05). Carotid body size, as measured using CTA, is not smaller in adults born prematurely or exposed to perinatal oxygen therapy when compared to sex, age, and BMI-matched controls. However, carotid body visualization was lower in juvenile premature patients. The decreased ability to visualize the carotid bodies in these individuals may be a result of their prematurity.