Carotid body tumor: what treating surgeon wants to know in radiological evaluation? - A case report

Abstract

Background: Carotid body tumors (CBTs) are benign, but they are quite controversial for the management because of their location and symptoms. Cervical CBTs are slightly uncommon paragangliomas. These are highly vascular tumors. Their location is at the bifurcation of common carotid artery (CCA) which is adjacent to many cranial nerves. Surgical management involves a lot of morbidity and mortality. Case Report: A 48-year-old female reported with painless small swelling on the right side of the neck region just below the angle of the mandible. The radiological evaluation by ultrasonography, contrast-enhanced computerized tomography, and magnetic resonance angiography revealed the swelling as carotid body tumor. The patient had been advised surgical management as presently the entity was almost without any symptoms. Conclusion: The cross-sectional imaging plays a great role in the diagnosis and management of CBTs as they are associated with many complications. The treating surgeon had to be very careful about surgical extirpation.