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Bilateral carotid body tumor

Case contributed by Ammar Haouimi
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Bilateral cervical painless swelling in a patient known for Graves disease.

Patient Data

Age: 50 years
Gender: Female

Bilateral well-defined upper cervical soft tissue mass, isodense to the muscles with vivid enhancement on postcontrast images, splaying the internal and external carotid arteries (lyre sign).

Diffusely enlarged thyroid gland with heterogeneous enhancement (known Graves disease).

Case Discussion

CT appearance of carotid body tumor (also called a chemodectoma or carotid body paraganglioma).

Carotid body tumors are the most common type of paraganglioma of the head and neck (account for 60-70%) and are bilateral in approximately 10% of cases (as in this case).

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