Bilateral Carotid Body Tumor

Abstract

This is a report of a rare finding of bilateral paraganglioma (carotid body tumor). Within the general population, only 1 in 30 000 cases is reported annually. The patient visited the emergency department (ED) complaining of headaches and bilateral neck pain for the past month. The ED staff prescribed radiological exams, ie, computed tomographic (CT) scans, with and without contrast. This was followed by a duplex ultrasound exam (DUS) of the extracranial carotid arteries. The CT with contrast found a lesion in the right carotid space with associated splaying of the carotid vessels and a smaller carotid space lesion on the left side. The patient underwent an endocrine workup to rule out hormonal imbalances, and the vascular team decided on a conservative course of treatment. This case study demonstrates that carotid body tumors can be bilateral. Having the knowledge about carotid body tumors will greatly benefit sonographers as they familiarize themselves with the clinical and sonographic features of carotid body tumors. In this study, we gain insight on how they typically appear on multiple imaging modalities. This helps promote early detection, the correct course of treatment, and potentially leading to better outcomes.