[Carotid artery obstruction caused by vagal paraganglioma]

A 72 year-old-man presented with right hemiparesis and global aphasia related to a large infarct in the left middle cerebral artery territory. A left carotid angiography revealed internal carotid artery occlusion and vascular blush just below the base of the skull. The blush was supplied by branches from the external carotid artery. Cervical CT-scan showed a large tumor centered by the left internal carotid artery. At cervical surgery, the internal carotid artery was compressed and infiltrated by the tumoral process: a benign paraganglioma. The site below the base of the skull and the connection between tumor and vagal nerve suggested a vagal paraganglioma. To our knowledge, this is the first case of cerebral infarction and internal carotid artery occlusion revealing a vagal paraganglioma.