MALIGNANT PARAGANGLIOMA WITH LYMPH NODE METASTASIS

ABSTRACT

Paragangliomas are rarely seen neural crest-derived tumors. They mostly present in carotid bifurcation. %10 of cases are familial. Familial paragangliomas generally occur at a younger age and bilaterally. Paragangliomas are often slow-growing, asymptomatic cases. In patients with symptoms, swelling of the neck, dysphagia, odynophagia are most common. Physical examination of patients with carotid-based paraganglioma reveals an insensitive mass in front of SCM (fountain sign). Although they are mostly benign, they can become malignant if they make metastasize. Multidisciplinary approach is important in these patients. While the main treatment is surgery, radiotherapy can be applied in metastatic disease, inoperable patients or patients who have positive surgical margins. In this article, 2 different paranganglioma cases with lymph node metastasis are discussed. In both cases, regional radiotherapy was administered after the surgery.

Key words: Paraganglioma, carotid body tumor, lymphatic metastasis, radiotherapy