Osama M. Al-Agha, MD
Cytopathology Fellow

Chris S. Jensen, MD
Director of Cytopathology, Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa

Upon completion of this activity, you will be able to:

• describe the normal anatomy of the carotid artery bifurcation.
• delineate the pathologic entities that can arise as contrast-enhancing masses at the carotid artery bifurcation.
• explain the utility of fine-needle aspiration biopsy in the preoperative evaluation of masses arising at the carotid artery bifurcation.
• discuss the clinical manifestations, diagnostic workup, management, and clinical outcome of cervical sympathetic chain schwannoma.
• describe the key cytomorphologic features of masses that can arise at the carotid artery bifurcation and how these masses can be distinguished from cervical sympathetic chain schwannoma on fine-needle aspirations.