Fig 2.

Images of a 51-year-old woman with a small right-sided carotid body tumor (confirmed angiographically) and a large left-sided vagal paraganglioma (not shown).

A and B, Axial view dual T2-weighted fast spin-echo image (3750/28/120 [TR/TE₁/TE₂]) shows only slight splaying of the carotid bifurcation (double arrow).

C, On the axial view T2-weighted fat-suppressed fast spin-echo image (5500/100 [TR/TE]), neither the carotid bifurcation nor a carotid body tumor is visible. High signal intensity in the carotid region is reflecting slow venous flow (arrow).

D, On the axial view contrast-enhanced T1-weighted fat-suppressed spin-echo image (625/17 [TR/TE]), enhancement of veins surrounding the normal left-sided carotid bifurcation (arrow) constrains detection of the small carotid body tumor (arrow).

E, Splaying of the carotid bifurcation (double arrow) can be noticed on the axial view unenhanced 3D time-of-flight MR angiogram (25/6.9/20 [TR/TE/flip angle]).

F, Enhancement of a small carotid body tumor (arrow) is depicted on the axial view contrast-enhanced 3D time-of-flight MR angiogram (25/6.9/20).