Carotidynia

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50 years old patient presented with right sided neck pain in the carotid region. Initial CT Angiography and MR Angiography have not shown signs of dissection. However a soft tissue mass around carotid bifurcation on the right side was noted on the initial CT. MR has confirmed poorly defined contrast enhancing mass around carotid bifurcation on the right. Note high signal on the first (fat suppressed) T2 sequences, contrast enhancing on fat suppressed T1 (third image) and better delineation on conventional T2 (last image). Combining clinical and radiological findings the concluded diagnosis is of Carotidynia. This is an idiopathic neck pain syndrome that is mostly diagnosed clinically and reacts well to therapy. Radiological MRI studies show inflammatory tissue in the affected region.

Interesting articles on Carotidynia:

Bradford S - MR Imaging of Patients with Carotidynia

K.E.A. van der Bogt - Carotidynia: A Rare Diagnosis in Vascular Surgery Practice

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