Abstract

Carotid body tumors, also known as paragangliomas or chemodectomas. are of a rare type of neoplasms and generally benign, that arise near the carotid bifurcation within glomus cells derived from the embryonic neural crest. The reported incidence of 1-2 per 100,000 [1]. The incidence of malignant tumors below 10% [2-3]. Approximately one-third are inherited as a part of a genetic syndrome. Genetic screening is advised because of the implication for malignant behavior and multifocality. The majority of these tumors are asymptomatic and initially noticed by inspection and palpation of neck swelling during the physical examination, it manifests as a pulsatile and generally painless cervical mass with firm consistency, located below the angle of the jaw, typically mobile in the lateral plane with restricted mobility in the cephalocaudal direction (Fontaine sign) or more commonly as incidental findings on radiological imaging studies. Nonetheless, the most observed symptoms are pain, dysphagia, and autonomic dysfunction in symptomatic cases [4]. If the tumors produce catecholamines, patients may complain of symptoms such as headache, hypertension, and palpitations [5].