Laparoscopic resection of a functional paraganglioma

The patient is a 41-year-old woman with a history of poorly controlled hypertension, headaches and sweating, who was diagnosed with a retroperitoneal tumor compatible with a functional paraganglioma. Laboratory tests showed elevated normetanephrine levels. PET/CT demonstrated uptake by a retroperitoneal mass measuring 4.5 cm in diameter, located anterior to the inferior vena cava and aorta, and posterior-inferior to the duodenum. After alpha blockade for 3 weeks and preoperative beta blockade, she underwent laparoscopic surgery with complete excision of the lesion. During surgery, she presented hypertensive crises during manipulation of the tumor, which remitted once it was removed. Biopsy confirmed the suspected radiological and biochemical diagnosis: paraganglioma.