Cavernous hemangioma of infrahyoid carotid sheath and review of the literature on carotid sheath tumors

BACKGROUND

Carotid sheath may include a variety of lesions such as neurogenic or vascular, tumors originating from extra-adrenal chromaphil cells, squamous cell carcinomas, and lymphomas. Hemangiomas are benign congenital neoplasms, which, when located in the head and neck region, may be easily misdiagnosed due to their infrequent localization.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We report an unusual case of cavernous hemangioma of the infrahyoid carotid sheath presenting as palpable mass in a 51-year-old woman with no prior medical history. A review of the literature was performed to investigate the radiological and histopathological characteristics and highlight the treatment of carotid sheath lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

CT, MRI, and MR angiography would help to locate hemangiomas of carotid sheath, but only surgical excision and histopathology can reveal their true nature.

Horner's syndrome resulting from agenesis of the internal carotid artery: report of a third case

INTRODUCTION

Only two previous reports of agenesis of the internal carotid artery with a coexistent Horner's syndrome are to be found in the medical literature.

CASE REPORT

We report a case of a male child seen initially for what was presumed to be a traumatic superficial temporal artery aneurysm. MRA incidentally revealed ipsilateral agenesis of the internal carotid artery. This child's physical exam included ipsilateral Horner's syndrome.

CONCLUSION

This case report illustrates that agenesis of the internal carotid artery does indeed cause Horner's syndrome in some cases. The clinician who diagnoses a patient with Horner's syndrome should remember that agenesis of the internal carotid artery may be the cause as this entity can be associated in itself with other pathologies of the central nervous system.