Case of functioning thoracic paraganglioma. Issue 9 (15th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Paul, Jinson; Jebasingh, Felix K; Kodiatte, Thomas Alex; Gnanamuthu, Birla Roy
• Is Part Of: BMJ case reports. Volume 13:Issue 9(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-09-15
• Subjects: cardiothoracic surgery -- endocrinology -- adrenal disorders; Medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2020-236440
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-790X

Abstract

Abstract : Functioning thoracic paraganglioma (PGL) is rare in clinical practice. We present a 33-year-old man with this pathology, who came with right-sided chest pain and was found to have a right-sided paravertebral mass. Fine needle aspiration cytology revealed a PGL. Urine normetanephrine was elevated and meta- iodobenzylguanidine scan showed increased tracer uptake in the right hemithorax, suggestive of a functioning neuroendocrine tumour. The patient was subjected to right PGL excision by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, after adequate preoperative preparations. The perioperative period was uneventful, except for a transient rise in blood pressure during the surgery. His blood pressure continued to be normal in the postoperative period. In any patient with a paravertebral mass, the possibility of PGL should be kept in mind even if the patient is normotensive. Making a preoperative diagnosis is important, because excision of functioning PGL without adequate preoperative preparation may be detrimental.