Objective:

To report a case of carotid body paraganglioma in a young woman, highlighting the diagnostic imaging and surgical approach in a case report format.

Approach:

• Patient Presentation: A 20-year-old woman presented with a painless left lateral neck mass that had been present for over 5 years.
• Diagnostic Imaging: Multimodal imaging including ultrasonography, CTA, MRI, and DSA was utilized for diagnosis and surgical planning.
• Surgical Intervention: Surgical excision was performed with a focus on preserving the carotid arteries and surrounding nerves.
• Follow-Up: Postoperative follow-up included ultrasonography and clinical assessment for recurrence.

Key Findings:

• The tumor was hypervascular and involved the carotid bifurcation.
• Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of carotid body paraganglioma.
• Surgical excision was grossly complete with preservation of major vessels and nerves.

Interpretation:

The case demonstrates the effectiveness of multimodal imaging in diagnosing carotid body paraganglioma and the feasibility of vessel-preserving surgical excision.

Limitations:

• No formal microscopic margin status was specified in the pathology report.
• Balloon occlusion testing, biochemical catecholamine work-up, functional imaging, and genetic testing were not documented.

Conclusion:

The case illustrates the management of carotid body paraganglioma in a young patient with follow-up outcomes.