[Hypoplasia of internal carotid artery associated with carotid paraganglioma. A case report and review of the literature].

BACKGROUND

Hypoplasia of the internal carotid artery is a rare congenital malformation. It has been mainly associated with aneurysms and other pathologies but not in association with paraganglioma. The incidence is 0.01% of all the anomalies of carotid vessels. Although the exact cause is unknown, it is thought to represent a sequel to an insult due to mechanical causes or hemodynamic stress but perhaps also involves aspects of molecular biology of embryonic development.

CLINICAL CASE: We describe the case of a 37 year-old female patient with paraganglioma associated with hypoplasia of the internal carotid artery, which was found incidentally during surgery. Previous angiographic studies as well as other analyses were carried out, but we failed to detect hypoplasia of the internal carotid artery. Tumor was removed along with ligation of the external carotid artery due to injury. The hypoplastic internal carotid artery was left intact.

CONCLUSION

Angiographic studies of the base of the skull are important as well as hemodynamic analysis in order to not overlook these anomalies. The patient had a satisfactory evolution without sequelae.