Case of a Malignant Carotid Body Tumor With Systemic Metastases: The Utility of Multimodal Imaging

Abstract

Carotid body tumors (CBTs) are rare neoplastic paragangliomas that are typically benign; however, 10% to 15% are malignant with local invasion and, in rare cases, metastases systemically. A 45-year-old woman with a familial history of CBT presented following a syncopal episode. Multimodal imaging confirmed the presence of bilateral CBTs. 68Gallium-DOTATATE Positron Emission Tomography (DOTATATE-PET) scans revealed distant systemic metastases in the liver and vertebra. Surgical intervention was undertaken to excise the less complex right CBT. This report presents a case of malignant CBT with systemic metastases, describing the postintervention multimodal imaging findings with a focus on the duplex ultrasound features.

Malignant carotid body tumors: What we know, what we do, and what we need to achieve. A systematic review of the literature

“…Among these articles, 20 (158 patients) included 5 or more patients (Table 1) 18–39 and were considered for the proportion MA. The remaining 112 studies (179 patients), represented by case reports or case series with <5 patients, are reported in Table S1 3,40–152 …”

“…For proportion meta‐analysis (MA), only case series with at least five consecutive cases were considered (Table 1). 18–39 All the other case series describing less than five patients (including case reports) were considered only for the SR and detailed in Table S1 3,40–152 …”