[Difficult diagnosis of a pancreatic paraganglioma].
BACKGROUND
The paraganglioma is a rare tumour that can sometimes develop near to the pancreatic gland and can occasionally mimic an intra pancreatic mass. Invasive investigations with puncture or primary surgical resection must be avoided because of the risk of vital complications.


METHODS
We report on the case of a 41 years old woman presenting with a mass apparently affecting the pancreatic gland. She also presented with malaises. Paraganglioma was suspected because of the malaises and the blood pressure crises. The diagnosis was permitted by the findings of high urinary metanephrine levels. So the tumour was resected without previous fine needle aspiration and with specific anaesthetic measures. No complication was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
When a patient presents with a pancreatic mass, physician must carefully take into account the possibility of a paraganglioma particularly when malaises are present.
Perrot
G
G
Service des maladies de l'appareil digestif, HIA Desgenettes, 108 boulevard Pinel, 69275 Lyon cedex 03, France. gregoire.perrot@wanadoo.fr
Pavic
M
M
Milou
F
F
Crozes
C
C
Faucompret
S
S
Vincent
E
E
D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D053379:Chromogranin A / Q000097:blood; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008676:Metanephrine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D009647:Normetanephrine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010235:Paraganglioma / Q000175:diagnosis*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D053379:Chromogranin A; D009647:Normetanephrine; D008676:Metanephrine