Carotid body tumor is typically supplied primarily by which artery?

• A. Internal Carotid Artery
• B. Common Carotid Artery
• C. Vertebral Artery
• D. External Carotid Artery

Answer: (D)

When a carotid body tumor (paraganglioma) forms at the bifurcation of the carotid arteries, its blood supply almost always comes from branches of the external carotid artery. The external carotid artery feeds the neck’s vascular structures, and its branches—especially the ascending pharyngeal artery—often provide the dominant feeders to these tumors. The internal carotid artery primarily supplies the brain and deep head structures, not the carotid body region, so it is not the typical source. The vertebral artery is not a common feeder for this tumor. Preoperative planning often targets these external carotid branches to reduce vascularity for safer resection.