Retroperitoneal non-functional paraganglioma: Report of a case from the Cardioinfantil Foundation, Bogotá, Colombia

Abstract

Paragangliomas are tumors that derive from chromaffin cells, which originate in the neural crest. This gives them the ability to secrete catecholamines, hormones and peptides. They form extra-adrenal tumors of the central nervous system and can be found in the skull base, neck, chest and abdomen. Depending on their characterization they are usually classified into functioning and non-functioning.

The patient initially presented to us with unspecified pain in the right hypochondrium. The presence of a neuroblastoma was suspected after initial imaging studies; however, due to similarities with other pathologies it was not possible to differentiate it from paraganglioma, ganglioneuroblastoma or neurofibroblastoma. Once the decision was made to conduct surgery, the pathology report showed extensive hemorrhagic areas compatible with non-functioning extra-adrenal paraganglioma. Non-functioning extra-adrenal paragangliomas are uncommon tumors of diverse location and difficult surgical treatment. 

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