title: Anatomical variation of internal carotid artery presenting as pharyngeal mass.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester, UK. lcheel@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Luff
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000002:abnormalities*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*