Carotid body paraganglioma with prominent lymphocytic infiltration mimicking metastatic lymph node: A case report

Abstract

Carotid body paraganglioma is a neuroendocrine neoplasm of the mandibular region. Due to its prominent stromal alternations, carotid body paraganglioma is a great emulator of other neoplasms in the head and neck region especially in metastatic tumors and its definite diagnosis is a great challenge. To the best of our knowledge, the most frequently reported variant is sclerosing and paraganglioma with a prominent lymphoplasmacytic infiltration is extremely rare. We report a rare case of a carotid body lymphoplasmacytic paraganglioma presented as a single asymptomatic mass of the right mandibular region in a 45-year-old woman. In order to exclude other possibilities, the use of immunohistochemistry is essential which shows a strong positive immunoreaction for chromogranin and synaptophysin. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice which is replaced with radiotherapy in contraindications. Overall, the tumor has a favorable clinical outcome.