Carotid Body Tumor: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Carotid body tumors or carotid body paragangliomas, are rare, highly vascular neuroendocrine neoplasms originating from the paraganglionic cells of the carotid body situated near the adventitial layer of the carotid bifurcation. Although they typically exhibit slow growth and benign behavior, their close proximity to the neurovascular structures of the neck poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Timely recognition through clinical examination and imaging studies is crucial for establishing the diagnosis and improving the prognosis. We present the case of an 84-year-old male with a progressively enlarging mass in the right parotid region, present for one month, without associated neurological symptoms. Carotid body tumors should be considered in the differential diagnosis of neck masses. Correlating clinical findings with imaging studies enables a timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment planning, thereby fostering a favorable clinical outcome.