A case of pelvic malignant paraganglioma

Abstract

We report a rare case of pelvic malignant paraganglioma that was treated with surgery, combination chemotherapy and radiation. A 47-year-old man was diagnosed with pelvic malignant paraganglioma that had metastasised to the thoracic vertebrae. The pelvic mass, which was 6 cm in size, was on the posterior side of the bladder and had invaded the prostate, seminal vesicle and bladder neck. We resected the intrapelvic tumor and lymph nodes using cystoprostatectomy. Metastases to bilateral obturator lymph nodes and the right internal iliac lymph node were shown by pathology. Adjuvant therapies included six courses of the combination chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, vincristine and dacarbazine), and 12 courses of VP-16 therapy. Radiation therapy was done for metastasis of the thoracic vertebrae. Local recurrence, progression of bone metastasis and new metastasis have not been detected since these treatments. The patient has been clinically stable during 20 months of follow-up. Chemotherapy of cyclophosphamide, vincristine and dacarbazine and VP-16 with radiation appears to be effective in treating advanced malignant paraganglioma.

Paragangliome rétropéritonéal non secrétant: une cause rare d’occlusion intestinale haute

“…Des auteurs ont rapporté la faisabilité de la coelioscopie dans les tumeurs de moins de 5 cm [ 13 ]. La radiothérapie et la chimiothérapie ont permis de contrôler dans quelques cas la maladie chez des patients métastatiques, mais le pronostic dépend de la récidive locale et des marges de résection lors de l'exérèse de la tumeur [ 14 ]. 10% des paragangliomes sont héréditaires.…”

Pelvic Paraganglioma

“…One third of patients remain asymptomatic, and the diagnosis is made by an incidental finding after computed tomographic or MRI examinations performed for other reasons. 5,6 We present a case of pelvic paraganglioma diagnosed after a hypertensive crisis during thyroid surgery in a 27-year-old woman. The surgical stress may have precipitated a symptomatic state, and this allowed us to establish the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma-paraganglioma after a urine test revealed high levels of catecholamines, although the adrenal glands appeared normal on MRI.…”