A Case of Bilateral Carotid Body Tumors Requiring Surgical Resection: The Importance of Physical Exams

We present the case of a 61-year-old man who presented to his primary care provider for a routine visit and was found to have a pulsatile mass in his right neck. This case report shows the importance of a thorough physical exam during patient visits. In this case, the physical exam resulted in the diagnosis of a carotid body tumor (CBT) prior to the patient becoming symptomatic from it. Further work-up was initiated, beginning with a computed tomography-angiogram, which revealed bilateral CBTs. He was referred to the vascular surgery service and underwent surgery to have this mass resected. The right CBT was resected without requiring vascular reconstruction and without postoperative complications. The case depicts the importance of a strong primary care system which becomes even more important in the rural or semi-urban setting and access to a vascular surgeon for appropriate, timely care.