A Case of Paraganglioma in Parapharyngeal Space

Abstract

A 57-year-old woman presented with a mass in the left upper neck and paralysis of the left XIIth cranial nerve. Sialo-CT scan showed an enhanced mass in the left parapharyngeal space. Carotid angiogram revealed that the tumor was hypervascular and that the bifurcation of the carotid artery was not widened. Surgery was performed. The tumor pushed the carotid vessels anteriorly. The vagus and hypoglossal nerves ran into the tumor, and were sacrificed; the carotid artery was preserved. Histopathological examination showed paraganglioma.