Rare Middle Mediastinal Paraganglioma Mimicking Metastatic Neuroendocrine Tumor.

Abstract

Mediastinal paragangliomas are rare neural crest derived tumors that may produce symptoms of excess catecholamine production or mass effect. Paragangliomas can histologically mimic neuroendocrine tumors. Further, both can arise in similar locations. We report a patient who presented with a right upper lobe as well as middle mediastinal lesion. Preoperative biopsy as well as intraoperative frozen section of these lesions failed to distinguish between paraganlioma or neuroendocrine tumor, necessitating a right upper lobectomy and complete mediastinal lymphadenectomy. Final pathology revealed carcinoid tumorlets in the right upper lobe and a middle mediastinal paraganglioma.

• Authors: Christopher K Mehta, Colin T Gillespie, Xiaoqi Lin, Anjana Yeldandi, Malcolm DeCamp, Ankit Bharat
• Journal: The Annals of thoracic surgery (Ann Thorac Surg) Vol. 100 Issue 2 Pg. 702-5 (Aug 2015) ISSN: 1552-6259 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 26234842 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Aged
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Female
• Humans
• Mediastinal Neoplasms (pathology, secondary)
• Neuroendocrine Tumors (pathology, secondary)
• Paraganglioma (pathology)