Anatomical variation of internal carotid artery presenting as pharyngeal mass.
OBJECTIVE
We describe a case of an internal carotid artery loop presenting as an oropharyngeal mass.


METHODS
Case report and review of current literature.


METHODS
A 71-year-old woman presented with an asymptomatic oropharyngeal mass. This was an incidental finding by her general practitioner and was urgently referred as a suspicious lesion. A magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed an internal carotid artery tonsillar kink indenting into the pharyngeal wall. No further treatment was necessary.


CONCLUSIONS
The internal carotid kink is an important anatomical variation which ENT surgeons should be aware of, as there are significant complications if blind biopsy is undertaken prior to appropriate imaging.
Leong
S C
SC
Department of Otolaryngology, Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester, UK. lcheel@doctors.org.uk
Luff
D A
DA
D000368:Aged; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000002:abnormalities*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*