What type of cancer is malignant paraganglioma?
Paraganglioma is a type of neuroendocrine tumor that forms near certain blood vessels and nerves outside of the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are important for making hormones that control many functions in the body and are located on top of the kidneys.
What is the difference between a paraganglioma and a pheochromocytoma?
Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma are rare tumors that come from the same type of tissue. Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor that forms in the adrenal medulla (the center of the adrenal gland). Paragangliomas form outside the adrenal gland.
Are paragangliomas malignant?
Paragangliomas are usually noncancerous (benign). But some paragangliomas can become cancerous (malignant) and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. Paragangliomas are rare tumors.
Does malignant paraganglioma come back?
The only sure way to know if a pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma is malignant is if it has spread, called metastasis, or if it comes back, called a recurrence. Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas are considered a subset of a group of tumors called neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).
Can a carotid body tumor cause a stroke?
Carotid body tumours (CBTs) are rare. The difficulty of surgical resection is highly documented with complications of carotid artery injury, stroke and cranial nerve dysfunction being the most serious.
What is the best possible treatment for pheochromocytoma?
The primary treatment for a pheochromocytoma is surgery to remove the tumor….Treatment
- Alpha blockers. These drugs keep smaller arteries and veins open and relaxed, improving blood flow and decreasing blood pressure.
- Beta blockers. These drugs cause your heart to beat more slowly and with less force.
- High-salt diet.
How is a paraganglioma different from a pheochromocytoma?
A pheochromocytoma is called a primary adrenal gland tumor because it starts inside an adrenal gland. Read about other types of primary adrenal gland tumors. A paraganglioma is a rare NET that develops from the same type of cells that pheochromocytomas do.
How can you tell if a pheochromocytoma is benign or malignant?
It is difficult to tell if pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma are benign or malignant, even after surgically removing the tumor and examining it under a microscope. The only sure way to know if a pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma is malignant is if it has spread, called metastasis, or if it comes back, called a recurrence.
Can A paraganglioma be a locally invasive tumor?
The group of paragangliomas that develop from parasympathetic-associated tissue in the head and neck are usually referred to as “head and neck paragangliomas.” These tumors can be locally invasive but usually do not metastasize or produce catecholamines (stress hormones).
How old do you have to be to be diagnosed with pheochromocytoma?
Have signs or symptoms of extra catecholamines being released into the blood or malignant (cancerous) paraganglioma. Are diagnosed before age 40. Genetic testing is sometimes recommended for patients with pheochromocytoma who: Are aged 40 to 50 years. Have a tumor in one adrenal gland.
