• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.197-199
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• 2014

Mediastinal paragangliomas are very rare neuroendocrine tumors. Complete resection is the standard treatment of a paraganglioma because of the tumor's potential malignancy and poor response to chemo- or radiotherapy. However, the highly vascular nature of the tumor and its characteristic anatomic location make complete resection difficult. We report a case of an anterior mediastinal paraganglioma, which was incidentally found on a chest computed tomography scan for chronic cough work-up of a 55-year-old woman. Complete resection was accomplished using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, and the patient recovered without any complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.174-176
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• 2022

Mediastinal paragangliomas are rare tumors that have only been reported in individual cases or limited case series. Surgical resection of these tumors can be challenging, as they are highly vascular and intimately related to the great vessels. Surgery is usually performed via median sternotomy with or without cardiopulmonary bypass. We present the case of a mediastinal paraganglioma that was resected via a left-sided posterolateral thoracotomy. Histopathology revealed a completely resected 38-mm paraganglioma with a positive station 5 lymph node, indicative of locally aggressive disease. Hereditary paragangliomas are associated with malignant transformation; therefore, genetic testing is important. These tumors do not respond well to chemoradiotherapy, and consequently lifelong surveillance for early detection of recurrence is recommended.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.198-202
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• 1998

The recurrence of an anterior mediastinal mass was discovered incidentally on the chest film for an asymptomatic 72-year-old female. She underwent the mass resection at the same site in 1989 and was diagnosed as a paraganglioma of the anterior mediastinum. She had poorly controlled hypertension which was converted into normal blood pressure after the first operation. During the follow up, the catecholamine levels were within normal limits, and there were no evidence of recurrence of the tumor. However, 6.3 years later, the mass recurred at the same anterior mediastinum. The patient had no hypertension and catecholamine levels were still within normal limits. The recurring mass was successfully removed and had the same histological findings - recurring paraganglioma.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.70 no.2
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• pp.165-169
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• 2011

Pheochromocytomas are neuroendocrine tumors of chromaffin cell that originate in the paraganglia of the adrenal medulla. Approximately 10% of pheochromocytomas are found in the extra-adrenal paraganglia and are called paragangliomas. However, cases of middle mediastinal paragangliomas are very rare. In this case, the patient presented with a voice change and a headache. A middle mediastinal soft tissue mass with marked enhancement was detected on computed tomography of the chest. The 24-hour urine catecholamine level was markedly elevated. The middle mediastinal mass was biopsied via mediastinoscopy and the resulting immunohistochemical staining was compatible with a diagnosis of middle mediastinal paraganglioma. The mass was resected surgically and the symptoms were relieved.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.155-160
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• 2000

Paraganglioma is a tumor from the extra adrenal paraganglion system and is rarely observed in the mediastinum. The authors experienced a case of nonfunctioning paraganglioma of the posterior mediastinum. The patient was 34-years-old male in whom abnormal mass lesion was nites in chest radiograph with hemoptysis. His blood pressure and serologic examination were within normal range upon admission to our hospital. Chest CT revealed a tumor in the left lower lobe. Diagnostic thoracoscopy was performed and diagnosed a posterior mediastinal mass. Surgical resection was them performed. Posterior mediastinal mass was removed successfully and histological examination of the surgical specimen diagnosed paraganglioma. He received radiotherapy after surgery and was followed up. Related literature are reviewed.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.247-251
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• 2007

A 38-year-old man who was diagnosed with malignant paraganglioma underwent computed tomography (CT) and I-131 metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) san. CT showed extensive lymph node enlargement in right iliac area and retroperitoneum with severe hydronephrosis and mass on posterior bladder wall. However, I-131 MIBG scan didn't showed abnormal uptake. He also underwent F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emisson tomography/CT for localizing accurate tumor site. F-18 FDG PET/CT showed multiple metastases of left supraclavicular, hilar, mediastinal para-aortic, inguinal, right iliac lymph nodes, lung, vertebrae, and pelvis. There are a few reports showing that the F-18 FDG PET/CT is helpful for staging and localizing tumor site of patients who are diagnosed with negative on the MIBG scans. Thus, we report a case with paraganglioma which showed negative I-131 MIBG scan, but revealed multiple intense hypermetabolic foci in F-18 FDG PET/CT.