Description
A homogeneous tan-coloured nodule, 2 cm in maximum diameter, is resting between the internal
and external carotid arteries. Metallic clips are seen at upper pole of the tumour.
NB: The carotid body lies behind the common carotid artery at the level of bifurcation. To help
identify this specimen a foreign carotid artery has been used; it was not possible to mount the
tumour in its likely anatomical position.
History
This woman noted a lump in her neck at about the same time as a lump in her breast.
Angiography suggested the neck lump might be a carotid body tumour, and this was excised.
Histology confirmed a carotid body paraganglioma (chemodectoma). The breast lump was shown
to be fibroadenoma.