[The carotid body paraganglioma: a rare swelling of the neck].

BACKGROUND

A carotid body paraganglioma is a rare tumour of the neck, which occurs at the level of the carotid bifurcation.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 52-year-old man was referred with a 10-year history of a swelling on the right side of his neck. Imaging revealed that this was a carotid body paraganglioma. The tumour showed no hormonal activity and there were no other paraganglioma localisations. We removed the tumour surgically, and histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of paraganglioma. Genetic investigation revealed that the patient was a carrier of a mutation in the succinate dehydrogenase complex, subunit D (SDHD) gene.

CONCLUSION

A paraganglioma of the carotid body is usually benign and slow-growing. It is familial in about 50% of cases, with a characteristic mutation in the SDHD-gene. Surgical removal is often the treatment of choice. If there is too high a risk of injury due to surgery, or in cases of inoperability, a "wait and see" policy with radiological follow-up is implemented. Diagnostics, treatment and follow-up demand a multidisciplinary approach.