CASE REPORT
Multiple Paragangliomas with Novel Mutation: A Rare Entity
Jnaneshwari Jayaram
1
, Anita Dhar
2
, Suneha Kumari
3
, Kanika Sharma
4
, Hemant Sachani
5
, Shamim Ahmed Shamim
6
,
Mehar Chand Sharma
7
, Anurag Srivastava
8
A BSTRACT
Head and neck paragangliomas (HNPGLs) are rare, rarely functional tumors known to have a genetic predisposition. Carotid body tumors (CBT)
are the most common HNPGLs followed by jugular bulb tumors, vagus nerve, and tympanic plexus. The prevertebral region is not the known
area for these tumors as seen in our case making it a rare case. Mutations in SDH-D linked genes are commonly associated with multiple HNPGLs.
SDH-D mutations with single-gene deletion are rare as seen in the present case. Bilateral carotid body tumors need to be managed in a staged
manner. Patients with HNPGLs need annual clinical, hormonal, and radiological, surveillance for early diagnosis and management. First-degree
relatives, especially males, need surveillance as SDH-D mutations exhibit maternal imprinting. We describe here the management of a middle-
aged male who came with neck swelling on evaluation and was found to have nonfunctional bilateral carotid body tumors, mediastinal, and
a rare prevertebral tiny lesion.
Keywords: Carotid body tumor, Novel mutation, Paraganglioma, Succinate dehydrogenase.
Indian Journal of Endocrine Surgery and Research (2022): 10.5005/jp-journals-10088-11182
B ACKGROUND
Paragangliomas are rare extra-adrenal tumors arising from
paraganglia seen in relation to the sympathetic/parasympathetic
chain in the head, neck, thorax, and abdomen.
1
Head and neck
paragangliomas are slow-growing tumors (0.6%) and rarely secrete
catecholamines (4–5%) hence nonfunctional.
2
These tumors occur
near arteries and cranial nerves of branchial arches therefore
close to carotid vessels and cranial nerves (X–XII). Most commonly
arising from the carotid body, followed by the jugular bulb, vagus
nerve, and tympanic plexus. The following section provides the
description of a case of multiple paragangliomas presenting with
bilateral carotid body tumors, prevertebral (rare), and mediastinal
lesions with SDH-D novel genetic mutation.
C ASE D ESCRIPTION
A gentleman aged 37 years came with complaints of painless,
nonprogressive swelling on the right side of the neck for 20 years.
Painful and gradually increased in size for last 2 years with no
other complaints. He was not a known hypertensive. No similar
complaints in the family members. On examination, his pulse was
80 beats/minute, and his blood pressure was 130/90 mm Hg.
On the right side of the neck, there was a 6 × 5 cm soft,
nontender, smooth surface, pulsatile swelling located deep to
sternocleidomastoid muscle at the level of thyroid cartilage
(Fig. 1 ). There was no other palpable swelling. Systemic examination
was normal. Ultrasound of the neck showed a hypoechoic lesion
with cystic spaces arising in between internal and external carotid
arteries confrming as CBT. Hormonal profle including 24 hours.
Urine metanephrines and normetanephrines, PTH, TFT, and
cortisol were normal. Because of the elevated blood pressure,
α-blocker (prazosin) was started at the low dose of 5 mg/day and
increased to 7.5 mg/day in a divided dose along with 4–5 liters
of water intake and 5 mg of salt. β blocker (propranolol 20 mg
twice daily) was started for tachycardia. Functional imaging by
68-Ga DOTANOC PET-CT showed multiple areas of increased
© The Author(s). 2022 Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.
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1–4,8
Department of Surgical Disciplines, All India Institute of Medical
Sciences, New Delhi, India
5,6
Department of Nuclear Medicine, All India Institute of Medical
Sciences, New Delhi, India
7
Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences,
New Delhi, India
Corresponding Author: Jnaneshwari Jayaram, Department of Surgical
Disciplines, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India,
Phone: +91 9742954025, e-mail: jnaneshwari.j@gmail.com
How to cite this article: Jayaram J, Dhar A, Kumari S, et al. Multiple
Paragangliomas with Novel Mutation: A Rare Entity. Indian J Endoc
Surg Res 2022;17(1):17–20.
Source of support: Nil
Confict of interest: None
Fig. 1: Right side of the neck showing a 6 × 5 cm soft, nontender, pulsatile
mass deep to sternocleidomastoid muscle