[ imaging findings of the carotid chemodectom]

The carotid body tumor, which arises from its chief cells [glomus type 1], is the most common paraganglioma of the head and neck [up to 50%]. The following case report is particularly useful for daily practice; the patient has surgical history of tiroid neoplasm which requires a thorough diagnosis, in order to determine an accurate follow-up. This tumor is in most cases clinically silent and is detected incidentally at imaging study during evaluation of patients with unrelated symptoms such as painless, slowly growing lateral neck mass, dysphagia, sleep apnea, and paresia or atrophy of the tongue. According to its appearance, precise non-invasive imaging techniques may allow the radiologist to reach the correct diagnosis and treatment