Atypical carotid body tumor.
Year: 2008
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: A 36-year-old woman presented at our institution with a palpable left-sided neck mass (3.5 × 3 cm) under the left mandibular angle. Ultrasonography of the neck revealed a hypervascular mass within the left carotid bifurcation, consistent with a carotid body tumor. Magnetic resonance angiography showed marked displacement of the carotid vascular structures by the tumor (Fig. 1). Spiral computed tomographic scanning showed a 5-cm hyperdense mass between the carotid artery and jugular vein bodies (Fig. 2). We found no tissue metastasis that would indicate malignancy. The tumor was surgically resected, and this was followed by polytetrafluoroethylene-graft reconstruction of the internal carotid artery and ligation of the external carotid artery. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful.
Fig. 1 Magnetic resonance angiography shows a mass located at the bifurcation of the common carotid artery.
Fig. 2 Spiral computed tomography shows a hyperdense mass between the carotid artery and jugular vein bodies.
Histopathologic analysis showed characteristics typical of a carotid body tumor, with no signs of malignancy (Fig. 3). Findings typical of a carotid body tumor (Fig. 4) included nuclear enlargement and hyperchromatism. No mitoses were seen.
Fig. 3 Medium-power view of the carotid body paraganglioma shows a zellballen pattern and delicate vasculature (H & E, orig. ×220).
Fig. 4 High-power view of the carotid body paraganglioma shows nuclear enlargement and hyperchromatism (H & E, orig. ×440).
Source: PubMed
Institution: Izmir Atatürk Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W45583127