Functional Mediastinal Pheochromocytoma

Abstract

A 36-year-old man visited Yeungnam University Hospital with a sudden onset of palpitation, headache, and was found to be hypertensive. Chest radiography showed a 6 cm sized mass lesion on the posterior mediastinum. A biochemical study showed elevated levels of catecholamines. An I-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine scan revealed a hot uptake lesion on the posterior mediastinum. The patient was prepared for surgery with α and β blocking agents. Two months later, we removed the tumor successfully. A histological study proved that the resected tumor was mediastinal pheochromocytoma. Functional mediastinal pheochromocytomas are rare. Therefore, we reported the case with a literature review.

Functional Intracardiac Paraganglioma

“…Most thoracic paragangliomas exist in the posterior mediastinum; thus, cardiac paragangliomas are very rare. Cardiac paragangliomas can originate from the branchiomeric or visceral autonomic paraganglia, resulting in tumors in the aortic body and left atrium [3,4]. Although most paragangliomas occur sporadically, recent evidence suggests that up to a third may be due to heritable factors [1].…”

Thoracic paraganglioma diagnosed in a patient with pulmonary tuberculosis – Case report

“…2,3 In 2008, Mayo Clinic reported their experience with fourteen cases of treated mediastinal paragangliomas. 4 Concomitant occurrence of tuberculosis and thoracic paraganglioma is even rarer, with very few previous reports 5 , making the diagnosis and treatment of these cases difficult and challenging.…”