title: Spectrum of retroperitoneal and genitourinary paraganglioma: Experience at a North Indian tertiary care center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Genitourinary and retroperitoneal paragangliomas are infrequent tumors with bizarre presentation. A high index of suspicion is required to make a diagnosis in young hypertensive individuals. Our aim is to study the varied clinical presentations and management of these paragangliomas. Herein, we share our experience of clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of these paragangliomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen consecutive patients who underwent surgery for paraganglioma at our institute from August 2009 to July 2014 were included. Demographic, peri-operative, surgical, and follow up data were collected and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age of presentation was 34.8 years with female predominance. The majority of the tumors were located in the retroperitoneum and urinary bladder. Most of them presented with classical symptoms of catecholamine excess and hypertension. Complete surgical resection could be performed in 13 cases. At a median follow up of two years, cases with R0 resection (no microscopic malignant cells) did not show recurrence. Among patients on chemotherapy, one died, another had partial response, and yet another had progressive disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Genitourinary and retroperitoneal paragangliomas are a disease of a young age group with variable clinical features at presentation. Appropriate pre-operative optimization and complete surgical resection provide the best chance of cure.
authors: Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Department of Urology, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Santosh
authors: S
authors: Kumar
authors: Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Department of Urology, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Gautam Ram
authors: GR
authors: Choudhary
authors: Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Department of Urology, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Shivanshu
authors: S
authors: Singh
authors: Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Department of Anesthesia, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Seema
authors: S
authors: Prasad
authors: Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Department of Urology, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Shrawan Kumar
authors: SK
authors: Singh
authors: Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Department of Endocrinology, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Anil
authors: A
authors: Bhansali
authors: Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Department of Endocrinology, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Sanjay
authors: S
authors: Bhadada
authors: Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Department of Endocrinology, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Pinaki
authors: P
authors: Dutta
keywords: genitourinary; malignant; paraganglioma; renal; retroperitoneal