Rare localization of paraganglioma in head and neck

In this paper, we describe the clinical course of a 61-year-old female patient with paraganglioma in the head and neck region. Computed tomographic scan (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound scan (US) and arteriogram findings initially led us to suspect that this tumor originated in the vagal nerve. In particular, a color Doppler US enabled an easy diagnosis of hypervascular tumor. We removed this surgically, but the tumor was easy to peel from the vagal nerve and carotid bifurcation. The distal side of the tumor was under the digastric muscle and running into the hypoglossal nerve. The intraoperative findings were highly suggestive of localization at the hypoglossal nerve, although Xth and XIIth cranial nerve palsies have remained. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.