Anatomical variation of internal carotid artery presenting as pharyngeal mass

Abstract

We describe a case of an internal carotid artery loop presenting as an oropharyngeal mass. Case report and review of current literature. A 71-year-old woman presented with an asymptomatic oropharyngeal mass. This was an incidental finding by her general practitioner and was urgently referred as a suspicious lesion. A magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed an internal carotid artery tonsillar kink indenting into the pharyngeal wall. No further treatment was necessary. The internal carotid kink is an important anatomical variation which ENT surgeons should be aware of, as there are significant complications if blind biopsy is undertaken prior to appropriate imaging.