Abdominal paraganglioma is a rare endocrine tumor associated with genetic mutations, however, the ability to predict long-term risk of metastasis has not been clarified. The aim of this study was to examine the clinicopathological features and outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for an abdominal paraganglioma. A retrospective analysis was performed for all patients undergoing surgery for abdominal paragangliomas from one surgical department between 1998 and 2010. Clinical presentation, hormone secretion and clinical outcomes were examined. A total of 23 patients underwent surgery for abdominal paraganglioma with the most common presentation being hypertension. Median time to metastasis was 32 months with all patients developing disease progression having a rise in urine catecholamines. Patients with capsular invasion or predisposing genetic conditions are at a higher risk of having more aggressive disease. All patients with a diagnosis of paraganglioma should be screened for predisposing genetic abnormalities and postoperative follow-up must include routine urinary catecholamine assessment.
Benign paragangliomas: Clinical presentation and treatment outcomes in 236 patients. J Clin Endocrinol Metab Nov 2001;86(11):5210-16.
Histological typing of endocrine tumours: WHO Classification, International Histological Classification of Tumours. Berlin: Springer 2000.
Pheochromocytoma and functional paraganglioma syndrome: No longer the 10% tumor. J Surg Oncol Mar 2005;89(3):193-201.
Extraadrenal retroperitoneal paraganglioma: Clinical, pathologic, and CT findings. AJR Am J Roentgenol Dec 1990;155(6):1247-50.
Case report: Intra-renal paraganglioma masquerading as a renal cyst. Int Urol Nephrol 2003;35(4):475-78.
Paraganglioma of the gallbladder. Arch Surg Oct 1972;105(4):637-39.
Paraganglioma of the greater omentum: Case report and review of the literature. World J Surg Oncol 2007;5:87.
Detecting pheochromocytoma: Defining the most sensitive test. Ann Surg Jan 2006;243(1):102-07.
Current approaches and recommended algorithm for the diagnostic localization of pheochromocytoma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab Feb 2004;89(2):479-91.
Superiority of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography to other functional imaging techniques in the evaluation of metastatic SDHB-associated pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. J Clin Oncol Jun 2007;25(16): 2262-69.
On the association of succinate dehydrogenase mutations with hereditary paraganglioma. Trends Endocrinol Metab Dec 2003;14(10):453-59.
Pheochromocytoma and extra-adrenal paraganglioma: Updates. Arch Pathol Lab Med Aug 2008;132(8): 1272-84.
Succinate dehydrogenase B gene mutations predict survival in patients with malignant pheochromocytomas or paragangliomas. J Clin Endocrinol Metab Oct 2007;92(10): 3822-28.
Genetic testing in pheochromocytoma and paragangliomaassociated syndromes. Ann NY Acad Sci Aug 2006;1073: 104-11.
Laparoscopic resection of an interaortocaval paraganglioma: Diagnosis following a needle biopsy. JSLS Oct-Dec 2007;11(4):502-05.
Laparoscopic resection of a paraganglioma of the organ of Zuckerkandl in a patient with a carotid body tumor. Am Surg Jan 2006;72(1):55-59.
Laparoscopic resection of periadrenal paraganglioma: A report of two cases. Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech June 2008;18(3):310-14.
Radiopharmaceutical treatment of malignant pheochromocytoma. J Nucl Med Feb 1984;25(2): 197-206.
Nuclear medicine therapy of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. Q J Nucl Med Dec 1999;43(4):344-55.
Effects of therapy with [177 Lu- DOTA0, Tyr 3] octreotate in patients with paraganglioma, meningioma, small cell lung carcinoma, and melanoma. J Nucl Med Oct 2006;47(10):1599-606.
Initial work-up and longterm follow-up in patients with phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab Sep 2006;20(3):421-34.
