Malignant paraganglioma causing bilateral pleural effusions.

A male patient presented with dyspnea due to a large left pleural effusion, and pleural biopsy revealed a malignant paraganglioma. Raised urinary catecholamine levels confirmed a functioning tumour. Aggressive local spread occurred which did not respond to cytotoxic chemotherapy. The primary site of the tumour was most likely the aorticosympathetic chain.