Laparoscopic Excision of a Paraganglioma Located in the Renal Arteriovenous Window - A Reasonable Approach

Paragangliomas are rare tumors that arise from extra-adrenal chromaffin cells. The occurrence of these tumors between the renal artery and the renal vein is very rare. Here we report the case of a 60-year-old woman with a solitary kidney who was incidentally found to have a paraganglioma without any endocrine dysfunction.

Under general anesthesia, the renal hilum was explored, and a tumor was identified between the renal artery and the renal vein. The tumor was removed completely with laparoscopy.

Preoperative CT-guided biopsy revealed pheochromocytoma. We excised the tumor laparoscopically and pathological diagnosis was paraganglioma. Histological analysis revealed that the tumor was composed of chromaffin cells in a predominantly alveolar growth pattern.

This patient was followed up at our out-patient-department for two and a half years. The plasma creatinin and the kidney size were normal. There was no tumor recurrence under ultrasonography examination. Laparoscopic excision of paraganglioma reduces postoperative pain, facilitates early recovery and shortens the hospital stay.