title: The value of pre-operative embolisation in primary inferior vena cava paraganglioma.
abstract: We report a case of a 13-year-old boy who complained of progressive abdominal distension and symptoms of anaemia. Radiological investigations revealed that the child had a hypervascular tumour of the inferior vena cava (IVC). Unfortunately, the child presented with acute lower gastrointestinal bleed soon after the investigation. He underwent an urgent pre-operative embolisation, aimed to reduce the tumour vascularity. A total resection of the tumour, right nephrectomy, and partial duodenal resection were done within 24 hours post-embolisation. The child was stable postoperatively. The histopathological examination revealed chromogranin-positive paraganglioma originating from the IVC. We highlight the radiological findings of rare primary IVC paraganglioma and the role of embolisation prior to surgical removal of the tumour.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Faizah Mohd
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Zaki
authors.forename: Syazarina Sharis
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.forename: Zaleha
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Abdul Manaf
authors.forename: Jeyaledchumy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mahadevan
authors.forename: Mazri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yahya