Paragangliomas of the head and neck region: A single center experience

Abstract

Background: Head and neck paragangliomas are slowly growing, highly vascular, mostly benign tumors that commonly occur at the carotid bifurcation at the jugular bulb, in the tympanic cavity, or as vagal paragangliomas. Unlike the adrenal counterpart, a vast majority of them are nonsecretory. Aims and Objectives: To study the clinicopathological aspects of paragangliomas arising in the head and neck region. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in a tertiary care centre for head and neck diseases between 2008 and 2016. Clinical data were retrieved from the records. Morphological examination was the mainstay of diagnosis. Results: Twenty-three cases of head and neck paragangliomas were diagnosed by morphological examination. Paragangliomas constituted 0.20% of all head and neck lesions. The age group ranged between 18 and 60 years, with a mean age of 44 years. Most common age at presentation was fourth and fifth decades. Majority of cases occurred in females, with male: female ratio of 1:4. Out of 23 cases, 19 cases (82.60%) involved the jugulotympanic region, 2 cases (8.69%) were laryngeal paragangliomas, and 2 cases (8.69%) were carotid body paragangliomas. Conclusion: Paragangliomas of the head and neck are uncommon lesions. The most common site in the head and neck region was the jugulotympanic region. Most cases of jugulotympanic paraganglioma presented in the fifth decade and later. Laryngeal paraganglioma presented clinically earlier in the second decade. Jugulotympanic and laryngeal paraganglioma showed dominance of tumor vasculature histologically. There was a rare case of laryngeal paraganglioma with lateral neck extension in this study.

Keywords

• Carotid body
• jugulotympanic
• laryngeal
• paraganglioma