Carotid body tumours (CBT), also called carotid body paraganglioma, are highly vascular and histologically portray paraganglion cells. They are typically found at the carotid bifurcation and result in the splaying of the internal and external carotid arteries (ICA and ECA). Recent literature supports the role of chronic hypoxia in the etiology of CBT. This pictorial essay discusses how CBT is an uncommon etiology for common clinical problems such as transient ischemic attacks. It also discusses imaging techniques to precisely map out the tumour for surgical resection using advanced imaging modalities and techniques.

Alumni of Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove Charles University Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences McMaster University Hamilton ON Canada

Department of Biology University of Toronto Toronto ON Canada

Department of Kinesiology McMaster University Hamilton ON Canada

Faculty of Medicine Port Said University Port Said Egypt

Faculty of Science University of Western Ontario London ON Canada

School of Health Sciences Dalhousie University 1278 Tower Road Halifax NS B3H 2Y7 Canada

School of Medicine College of Health Sciences Addis Ababa University Addis Ababa Ethiopia

Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry University of Western Ontario London ON Canada

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