# Malignant Carotid Body Tumor in a Young Female Patient: Case Report with Review of Literature

## TL;DR

This paper reports a rare case of a malignant carotid body tumor in an 18-year-old female, highlighting its unusual presentation and diagnosis.

## Contribution

The novelty lies in the rare occurrence of malignancy in a young female patient from a non-mountainous region.

## Key findings

- The patient presented with a painless, pulsatile neck swelling lasting two-and-a-half years.
- Histopathology confirmed a malignant carotid body tumor with regional lymph node involvement.
- The case is notable due to the rarity of malignancy and the young age of the patient.

## Abstract

Carotid body tumors (CBTs) are rare paragangliomas of the head and neck region. They are typically benign and slow-growing but malignant transformation can occur. Early diagnosis and complete surgical excision of the tumors play a vital role in management.

We present the case of an 18-year-old female patient from a non-mountainous region, who presented to us with a gradually progressive, painless swelling that had persisted for two-and-a-half years. The swelling was firm, non-tender, pulsatile, and located on the right side in the anterior triangle of neck with a thrill on palpation. Diagnosis was established by imaging and complete surgical excision was performed. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of CBT with regional lymph node involvement, establishing the diagnosis of malignancy. The rarity of malignancy and its occurrence in a young female patient make this case noteworthy.