A case of carotid body tumor.

A thirty-five-year-old woman had an asymptomatic, slow growing mass that pushed the right tonsilla palatina and was pulsatile in the oropharyngeal region. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a vascular mass at the carotid bifurcation, causing displacement of the external and internal carotid arteries. The diagnosis of a carotid body tumor was confirmed by magnetic resonance angiography. Surgery included a subadventitial dissection at the carotid bifurcation, preserving the hypoglossal and vagal nerves. The patient developed loss of function of the tenth cranial nerve postoperatively. After a year follow-up period, there was no change in the function of the tenth cranial nerve.