[Mediastinal paraganglioma with pleural metastasis. A case report]

Rev Pneumol Clin. 2005 Oct;61(5 Pt 1):315-8. doi: 10.1016/s0761-8417(05)84847-3.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Paraganglioma is rare tumor arising from chromaffine cells. We report a 39-year-old man who was diagnosed with anterior mediastinal paraganglioma. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a solid mass in the anterior mediastinum. Surgical biopsies obtained by sternotomy confirmed histologic and immunohistochemical features of paraganglioma. Surgical removal of this vascularized and invasive tumor was not possible to. External radiotherapy was performed. Three years later, the patient developed chest pain. CT findings showed right nodular pleural masses. Transparietal biopsy confirmed the same pathological aspect of paraganglioma. Chemotherapy was proposed without significant response. This observation confirmed the rare course of paraganglioma to pleural metastases. Treatment of paraganglioma is mainly surgery if the mass is resectable.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mediastinal Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Mediastinal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Paraganglioma / diagnosis
  • Paraganglioma / secondary*
  • Pleural Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Pleural Neoplasms / secondary*