A CASE REPORTOFFUNCTIONAL RETROPERITONEAL PARAGANGLIOMA

Abstract

Paraganglioma is a rare tumor arising from the extraadrenal paraganglion tissues. Paragangliomas can be shown to contain small amount of catecholamines, are designated “functional” or “non-funtional” according to whetehr or not they secrete catecholamines and produce the clinical syndrome of a pheochromocytoma.
A 59-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of a huge abdominal mass. Ultrasonography and computed tomography fo the abdomen revealed a single, large retroperitoneal tumor approximately 10cm in diameter.
The tumor was excised with the descending colon. The tumor secreted catecholamines which elevated blood pressure while the operation. The increased level of catecholamines before operation decreased to normal range just after extirpation of the tumor. From a solusion involved in the tumor, 220ng/ml of adrenaline, 87μg/ml of noradrenaline, and 1, 2000ng/ml of neuron specific enolase were quantitatively determined. Histopathologic and immunohistopathologic findings confirmed the paraganglioma.