Laparoscopic Resection of a Non-functional, Extra-adrenal Paraganglioma: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Non-functional, extra-adrenal, retroperitoneal paraganglioma is a rare, neuroendocrine, and potentially malignant tumor. Its diagnosis and treatment may be challenging. A 69-year-old female patient was admitted because of a left para-aortic, solid, 4.4-cm mass, incidentally discovered during abdominal ultrasonography for screening purposes. Her clinical examination was unremarkable. Preoperative differential diagnosis based on cross-sectional imaging included tumor of neuroendocrine or mesenchymal origin. Hormonal investigation with 24hour urinary catecholamines and metanephrines and plasma-fractionated metanephrines was in the normal range. Following consultation with the endocrinologist and anesthesiologist, the tumor was removed by using the three-dimensional (3D) laparoscopic transperitoneal surgical approach. The perioperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the third postoperative day. Histopathologic findings were consistent with the diagnosis of retroperitoneal extra-adrenal paraganglioma of 5 cm in maximum diameter.

A young patient with heart failure was diagnosed with extra-adrenal paraganglioma: a case report

“…Malignant extra-adrenal paraganglioma is rare and reported to be less than 3%, of which nearly 75% are sporadic and 25% are hereditary [9]. Malignant tumors are mostly metastases or spread to organs without chromaffin tissue [10].…”

A patient with paraganglioma undergoing laparoscopic resection: A case report

“…A PubMed search for reports on laparoscopic surgery for abdominal PGL with paraganglioma/laparoscopic revealed 12 case reports, including this case, in a 10‐year period from 2010 to 2020 (Table 1). 18‐28 The average age was 44.9 years (22‐72), and the male:female ratio was 5:7. Laparoscopic approaches consisted of the transperitoneal approach in 11 cases and transthoracoabdominal approach in 1 case.…”

Management of a Left Lateral Aortic Paraganglioma During Pregnancy: A Rare Case Report

“…Paragangliomas can occur sporadically, as in our patient, or as part of hereditary syndromes like Von Hippel-Lindau disease, multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) types 2A and 2B, and neurofibromatosis type 1 [ 8 ]. In the sporadic form, the condition can occur between the ages of 20 and 50 years with a female-to-male ratio of around 3:1 [ 9 ].…”