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.
Royal Perth Hospital, WA.
R M
RM
Clarnette
E J
EJ
Bayliss
L
L
Matz
D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010235:Paraganglioma / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed