Multiple primary malignant paraganglioma of the head and neck with lymph node metastasis

Abstract

Paragangliomas of the head and neck are usually benign tumors. Malignant form is quite rare and criteria for malignancy are not clear. Clinical, biochemical and histological features of malignant forms are not sufficient to reliably distinguish them from benign tumors and malignancy is established only in the presence of distant metastasis. Herein, we report a patient with glomus jugulare on the right, glomus vagale and glomus caroticum tumors on the left side with cervical lymph node metastasis on the right side.