Thyroid paraganglioma in a patient with a history of carotid and vagal paraganglioma: metastatic or primary tumor?. Issue 4 (22nd April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yepuri, Natesh; Vanga, Gautam R; Naous, Rana; Kinthala, Sudhakar
• Is Part Of: Journal of surgical case reports. Volume 2021:Issue 4(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-04-22
• Subjects: Paraganglioma -- Thyroid -- Familial -- Metastatic -- Primary -- Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) genes; Surgery -- Periodicals; Surgery -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 617.005
• DOI: 10.1093/jscr/rjab102
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2042-8812

Abstract

Abstract: Paragangliomas (PGs) are extremely rare multicentric neoplasms. Hereditary or familial PGs are associated with germline mutations in succinate dehydrogenase genes, seen in one-third of cases. Primary PGs of the thyroid are uncommon neuroendocrine neoplasms that account for 0.012% of all head and neck lesions. Although majority of these tumors are solitary, familial PGs are associated with synchronous tumors (carotid/vagal). We report an interesting case of primary thyroid PG in a patient with a previous history of a right carotid body, right vagal PGs and positive familial history, confining the differential diagnosis to recurrent lesions, which is the most common occurrence or new primary or a metastatic lesion. However, long interval and surgical anatomy suggests the diagnosis to be a primary lesion. In conclusion, although these lesions present multicentrically present at varying intervals, their occurrence at anatomically distinct sites should raise the concern for a new primary PG.