Multiple paragangliomas diagnosed in head, neck, and mediastinum: a case report

BACKGROUND: Paragangliomas are neuroendocrine tumors that often present as solitary tumors. In this case report, we describe a patient with multiple head and neck paraganglioma associated with a mediastinal paraganglioma. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 46-year-old male with a history of surgical removal of a mass from the right side of the neck, who presented with dysphonia lasting two months, hoarseness, vague chest pain, and unilateral ptosis. CT angiography of the carotid arteries and thoracic aorta revealed multiple findings, including a well-defined enhancing mass measuring 33 × 39 mm in the aorto-pulmonary prevascular space, a grade I carotid body tumor on the left side of the neck, vagal paragangliomas on the right side of the neck, and a glomus jugulare tumor on the right side. These findings were collectively suggestive of multiple paragangliomas. The patient subsequently underwent surgical resection of the mediastinal tumor, and pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of paraganglioma. CONCLUSION: This report details a rare case of paraganglioma with multiple head, neck, and mediastinal involvement, emphasizing the need for thorough evaluation and genetic assessment in atypical presentations.