Rhabdomyoma of paracarotid space: case report

Rhabdomyoma is a skeletal muscle lesion. It is considered a rare and non-aggressive tumor originating from striated muscle. It may occur in the heart or in extracardiac region. In adults, it most typically occurs in the larynx and pharynx. The occurrence in the paracarotid space is extremely rare, and no similar cases was found in the recent literature. We present an unprecedented case of a paracarotid rhabdomyoma in a 50-year-old female who underwent total thyroidectomy for a goiter. Clinical examination revealed an asymptomatic cervical mass on the left side of the neck. Ultrasound showed a hypoechoic, solid lesion, which was characterized as a parathyroid adenoma. The diagnosis was confirmed postoperatively by histopathology. The aim of this article is to report a rare extracardiac location of this tumor. Complete surgical excision is paramount due to the high potential for recurrence in cases of incomplete excision.