title: Internal carotid artery ectasia: the value of imaging studies prior to biopsy of a retropharyngeal mass.
abstract: The presence of retropharyngeal tissue mass often raises the suspicion of malignancy, especially in elderly patients. This prompts urgent biopsy to investigate tissue histology. We discuss a case where this is contraindicated as the retropharyngeal mass was illustrated by CT scanning and confirmed with MRI to be a tortuous coursing internal carotid artery. An awareness of this unusual anatomical variation and a careful interpretation of imaging studies both at the stage of differential diagnosis and pre-operative screening are essential to avoid damage to important structures, causing unnecessary complications.
authors.affiliation: Barts and the London NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Barts and the London NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Polly S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.affiliation: Barts and the London NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Mike G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Dilkes