title: Non-functional paraganglioma of the posterior mediastinum.
abstract: Mediastinal paraganglioma is a rare and slow growing neurogenic tumor. Here, we describe a 49-year-old woman with a non-functional posterior mediastinal paraganglioma. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for tumor excision failed due to massive bleeding. The tumor was excised successfully by lateral thoracotomy with bipolar electrocautery 1 week after the first operation. Mediastinal paraganglioma remains a surgical challenge due to its hypervascular character and firm adhesion to adjacent mediastinal structure. Since the non-functional posterior mediastinal paraganglioma is often diagnosed after operation, it should be regarded as a differential diagnosis of mediastinal mass, especially if surgeons experience unexpected massive bleeding during operation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 10002, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Mong-Wei
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yih-Leong
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Yung-Chie
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Pei-Ming
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D005260:Female; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010236:Paraganglioma, Extra-Adrenal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D013908:Thoracotomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D017211:Treatment Failure