OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Paragangliomas of the thoracic spine are rare. Previously described cases involved nonfunctioning tumors. This report documents the diagnosis and surgical treatment for a patient who presented with a functioning thoracic paraganglioma. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 53-year-old woman presented with a 10-month history of headaches, facial flushing, and palpitations associated with hypertension. Urinary catecholamine levels were markedly elevated. Magnetic resonance imaging and m-[(123)I]iodobenzylguanidine scans demonstrated an extradural tumor located within the T12 vertebra, with a significant paraspinal component. The neurological examination revealed mild hypesthesia in the right T12 dermatome. INTERVENTION: The patient underwent resection of the tumor after alpha-adrenergic receptor blockade. Grossly complete excision was achieved without neurological complications. Postoperatively, the patient was normotensive and exhibited catecholamine levels within the normal range. CONCLUSION: Functioning paragangliomas of the thoracic spine are rare lesions that are difficult to treat. Successful treatment requires careful surgical planning and expert pharmacological manipulation.
OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Paragangliomas of the thoracic spine are rare. Previously described cases involved nonfunctioning tumors. This report documents the diagnosis and surgical treatment for a patient who presented with a functioning thoracic paraganglioma. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 53-year-old woman presented with a 10-month history of headaches, facial flushing, and palpitations associated with hypertension. Urinary catecholamine levels were markedly elevated. Magnetic resonance imaging and m-[(123)I]iodobenzylguanidine scans demonstrated an extradural tumor located within the T12 vertebra, with a significant paraspinal component. The neurological examination revealed mild hypesthesia in the right T12 dermatome. INTERVENTION: The patient underwent resection of the tumor after alpha-adrenergic receptor blockade. Grossly complete excision was achieved without neurological complications. Postoperatively, the patient was normotensive and exhibited catecholamine levels within the normal range. CONCLUSION: Functioning paragangliomas of the thoracic spine are rare lesions that are difficult to treat. Successful treatment requires careful surgical planning and expert pharmacological manipulation.
Authors: Steven C Cunningham; Hyun S Suh; Jordan M Winter; Elizabeth Montgomery; Richard D Schulick; John L Cameron; Charles J Yeo Journal: J Gastrointest Surg Date: 2006 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 3.452
Authors: Shuzhong Liu; Xi Zhou; An Song; Zhen Huo; William A Li; Radhika Rastogi; Yipeng Wang; Yong Liu Journal: Medicine (Baltimore) Date: 2019-09 Impact factor: 1.817