title: Paraganglioma mimicking a pancreatic neoplasm.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Paragangliomas are rare tumours of neural crest origin. Extra-adrenal pancreatic paragangliomas are exceptionally rare.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 66-year-old man with abdominal pain was noted to have a complex pancreatic head and uncinate process mass on imaging. He underwent complete resection by pancreaticoduodenectomy with final pathology confirming a 6 cm paraganglioma without evidence of metastases. On histology the tumour was arising from the retroperitoneum and abutting the pancreas. The patient was disease free at 14-month follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pancreatic paragangliomas represent in many cases the retroperitoneal extension of a paraganglioma into the pancreas rather than a true pancreatic neoplasm. Although generally benign, the risk of malignant transformation justifies aggressive management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lightfoot
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nikfarjam
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy; D010235:Paraganglioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery