PARAGANGLIOMAS

Paragangliomas are tumors arising from the paraganglia. Historically, these lesions have been referred to by a variety of names including glomus tumors, chromaffinomas, and chemodectomas.

90% of paragangliomas occur in the adrenal gland as pheochromocytomas. Of the extra-adrenal paragangliomas, most occur in the abdomen (85%), followed by the thorax (12%), with only 3% in the head and neck. These tumors are usually benign and slow-growing. Malignant degeneration is seen in 4% of jugulotympanic and laryngeal lesions, 10% of carotid body tumors, and 16% of vagal paragangliomas. Metastases may involve lungs, skull, mandible, spine, and lymph nodes.