MRI
Axial T1
Axial T1 fat sat
Axial T2
Coronal T2
Coronal T1 C+ fat sat
Sagittal T1 C+ fat sat
MRI shows a round lesion located between the internal and external carotid bifurcation, iso-intense to muscle on T1 & T2 (salt & pepper appearance), and enhancing avidly after gadolinium administration. The internal and external carotid arteries are splayed by the lesion.
The most probable diagnosis is a carotid body paraganglioma (carotid glomus tumor / chemodectoma)