Carotid body tumor with concurrent masticatory pain dysfunction.

The serendipitous finding of a mass in the left neck unrelated to the prior masticatory muscle findings brought about prompt angiographic and magnetic resonance imaging studies that confirmed the presence of a carotid body tumor. The presence of an unrelated pathologic entity in the area from which prior complaints and findings had originated can be overlooked if one continues to focus on the initial presenting findings. When a more serious and even life-threatening element emerges during the time of painful dysfunction it may be masked by the ongoing symptoms and signs. Failure to recognize the presence of a new component with presenting symptoms similar to those ascribed to myofascial pain dysfunction is fraught with serious consequences for the patient.