Neck paraganglioma and follicular lymphoma: a case report

• Main Authors: Lara Marchetti, Luca Perrucci, Francesca D’Ercole, Maria Chiara Zatelli, Maria Rosaria Ambrosio, Melchiore Giganti, Aldo Carnevale
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2019-12-01
• Series: Journal of Medical Case Reports
• Subjects: Head and neck paraganglioma; Follicular lymphoma; SDH; Imaging
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-019-2323-1

Abstract Background Paragangliomas and pheochromocytomas are sympathetic or parasympathetic tumors derived from the paraganglia and the adrenal medulla, respectively. Paragangliomas and pheochromocytomas can be sporadic or familial, the latter frequently being multifocal and possibly due to succinate dehydrogenase complex genes mutations. In addition, 12% of sporadic paragangliomas are related to covered succinate dehydrogenase complex mutations. The importance of identifying succinate dehydrogenase complex mutations is related to the risk for these patients of developing multiple tumors, including non-endocrine ones, showing an aggressive clinical presentation. Case presentation We report the case of a 45-year-old Caucasian man with an indolent mass in his neck. Ultrasound of his neck, magnetic resonance imaging, and 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N(I),N(II),N(III),N(IIII)-tetraacetic acid(D)-Phe(1)-thy(3)-octreotide (68Ga-DOTATOC) positron emission tomography-computed tomography and endocrine work-up were consistent with a carotid body paraganglioma with concomitant nodal enlargement in several body regions, which turned out to be a follicular lymphoma at histology. He was found to carry a germline Succinate dehydrogenase subunit B gene (SDHB) mutation. Conclusion It is crucial to look for a second malignancy in the case of a paraganglioma demonstrating succinate dehydrogenase complex germline mutations.