Retroperitoneal paragangliomas in obese patients.

Obesity, the most significant metabolic problem in the world today, is associated with a wide range of diseases, including endocrine disorders. Paraganglioma is a rare chromaffin cell tumor that develops from the neural crest cells of the neuroendocrine system. Retroperitoneal paragangliomas can represent a surgical challenge due to their close relation to large vessels. We report two cases of functioning retroperitoneal paraganglioma in type-I obese patients (case 1: female; weight, 77 kg; body mass index, 30.1 kg/m(2); case 2: male; weight, 92 kg; body mass index, 31.1 kg/m(2)) who underwent elective endocrine surgery. The tumors (one interaortocaval and the other above the iliac artery) were completely excised by laparotomy without postoperative complications.