Functional paraganglioma of the pancreatic head: A case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND

Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PGL) are a rare group of neuroendocrine neoplasms with characteristic genetic diversity and catecholamine secretion patterns. They arise from non-neuronal and non-epithelial neuroendocrine cells of the paraganglia, and have the highest rate of heritability among all tumors.

CASE SUMMARY

A 76-year-old woman presented with the complaint of dizziness that had persisted for one week. She had a 30-year history of hypertension. Despite long-term use of antihypertensive drugs, her blood pressure was not effectively controlled. A tumor was subsequently found in the head of the pancreas by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging and she was initially diagnosed with an aneurysm. On December 21, 2021, she underwent resection of the retroperitoneal tumor and pancreatic repair surgery. However, after postoperative pathological analysis and immunohistochemistry, the diagnosis was revised to PGL. After two years and eight months of follow-up, the tumor did not recur or metastasize, and her blood pressure returned to normal without taking antihypertensive drugs.

CONCLUSION

The possibility of PGL should be considered when a tumor is identified and patients have catecholamine secretion related symptoms that are difficult to control with medications.