Extra-adrenal paraganglioma of the retroperitonium: a case report and review of literature

Abstract

Paragangliomas are rare endocrine tumors that arise from paraganglias which are neuroendocrine non-excretory structures, derived from neural cells; they have a diffuse distribution related to the vessels and nerves of the branchial arches and to the ortho and parasympathetic systems. Paragangliomas can occur where the paraganglia exists. They can be found from the base of the skull to the pelvic floor, there seat of predilection is abdominal cavity, along the autonomic nervous system, usually within the para-aortic and perinephric spaces. The clinical presentation of this entity are marked generally with flank pain and hypertension which is generally difficult to manage, CT scan is the gold standard to predict the diagnosis and the treatment is surgical resection of the mass either in open or laparoscopic approach with a perfect monitoring of blood pressure; We present here a case of retroperitoneal paraganglioma treated in our institution.