CAROTID TRANSPOSITION - ANOTHER CAUSE OF WIDE RETROPHARYNGEAL SOFT-TISSUES

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this original report is to describe medial t ransposition of the common carotid arteries. This transposition may pr oduce wide retropharyngeal soft tissues on lateral cervical radiograph s. CONCLUSION. When common carotid arteries are transposed from their normal lateral positions into the retropharyngeal soft tissues, if vas cular calcifications are present, this carotid abnormality is easily r ecognized on plain radiographs. Radiologists and clinical physicians s hould be aware that vascular transposition may be a benign cause of wi dening of the retropharyngeal soft tissues.