RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Paraganglioma arising from the liver and abutting the heart
JF BMJ Case Reports
JO BMJ Case Reports
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP e253847
DO 10.1136/bcr-2022-253847
VO 16
IS 3
A1 Hussein Kharroubi
A1 Tedy Sawma
A1 Pierre Sfeir
A1 Mohammad Khalife
YR 2023
UL http://casereports.bmj.com/content/16/3/e253847.abstract
AB A paraganglioma is a rare extra-adrenal neuroendocrine tumour with a variable clinical presentation. A paraganglioma can arise anywhere along the sympathetic and parasympathetic chains, but it can occasionally emerge from unusual locations such as the liver and the thoracic cavity. We report a rare case of a woman in her 30s who presented to our emergency department with symptoms of chest discomfort, episodic hypertension, tachycardia and diaphoresis. A diagnostic approach including a chest X-ray, an MRI and a positron emission tomography–CT scan showed a large exophytic liver mass protruding into the thoracic cavity. For further characterisation of the mass, a biopsy of the lesion was performed, demonstrating that the tumour is of neuroendocrine origin. This was supported by a urine metanephrine test showing high levels of catecholamine breakdown products. Treatment consisted of a unique multidisciplinary approach involving hepatobiliary and cardiothoracic surgery allowing a safe and complete extermination of the hepatic tumour and its cardiac extension.