title: A Rare Case of a Massive Carotid Body Tumor in a 3-Year-Old Infant: Case Presentation and a Literature Review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Paragangliomas are neuroendocrine tumors derived from the extra-adrenal paraganglia of the autonomic nervous system. Only 3% of all paragangliomas are reported to occur in the head and neck region. The most common paraganglioma of the head and neck is the carotid body tumor. Only few cases have been described in the literature regarding the pediatric age group less than aged 14 years, mostly as case reports.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our case describes a massive paraganglioma in the head and neck region occurring in a 3-year-old Arabic boy, for which surgical excision was not possible and radiotherapy resulted in a good clinical and radiologic response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Paragangliomas a rare in children and mostly diagnosed in a locally advanced stage. Surgery in most cases is difficult especially because of the proximity of the vessels; radiotherapy is still a good alternative for those cases.
authors: Vascular Surgery Department, Avycenn Hospital, Mohamed V University, Rabat, Morocco. Electronic address: bensaidbadr8@gmail.com.
authors: Badr
authors: B
authors: Bensaid
authors: Radiation Oncology Department, National Institute of Oncology, Mohamed V University, Rabat, Morocco. Electronic address: Jihane.khalil@gmail.com.
authors: Jihane
authors: J
authors: Khalil
authors: Vascular Surgery Department, Avycenn Hospital, Mohamed V University, Rabat, Morocco.
authors: Elhadj
authors: E
authors: Ould Salek
authors: Vascular Surgery Department, Avycenn Hospital, Mohamed V University, Rabat, Morocco.
authors: Samir
authors: S
authors: El Khaloufi
authors: Vascular Surgery Department, Avycenn Hospital, Mohamed V University, Rabat, Morocco.
authors: Redouane
authors: R
authors: Elidrissi
authors: Vascular Surgery Department, Avycenn Hospital, Mohamed V University, Rabat, Morocco.
authors: Brahim
authors: B
authors: Lekehal
authors: Vascular Surgery Department, Avycenn Hospital, Mohamed V University, Rabat, Morocco.
authors: Yassir
authors: Y
authors: Sefyani
authors: Vascular Surgery Department, Avycenn Hospital, Mohamed V University, Rabat, Morocco.
authors: Abbas
authors: A
authors: Elmesnaoui
authors: Radiation Oncology Department, National Institute of Oncology, Mohamed V University, Rabat, Morocco.
authors: Noureddine
authors: N
authors: Benjaafar
authors: Vascular Surgery Department, Avycenn Hospital, Mohamed V University, Rabat, Morocco.
authors: Younes
authors: Y
authors: Bensaid
mesh_terms: D002345:Carotid Body Tumor / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male