Intrapericardial paraganglioma with intratumoral coronary arterial aneurysm and an arteriovenous fistula

J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2009 Feb;22(2):211.e1-3. doi: 10.1016/j.echo.2008.12.001. Epub 2009 Jan 8.

Abstract

The authors present the case of a 55-year-old woman with a nonfunctioning intrapericardial paraganglioma. The tumor was incidentally found during transthoracic echocardiography that was performed because an enlarged cardiac silhouette had been noted on a chest x-ray. Transesophageal echocardiography further elucidated that the left circumflex coronary artery branched and traversed into the intrapericardial mass. Coronary angiography and cardiac multislice computed tomography both confirmed the presence of a vascular intrapericardial mass being fed by the obtuse marginal artery. Moreover, an arterial aneurysmal formation and a coronary arteriovenous fistula were noted within the tumor. After "en bloc" tumor resection, histopathologic and electron microscopic examinations established the diagnosis of a nonfunctioning intrapericardial paraganglioma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Arteriovenous Fistula / diagnostic imaging*
  • Arteriovenous Fistula / etiology*
  • Coronary Aneurysm / diagnostic imaging*
  • Coronary Aneurysm / etiology*
  • Female
  • Heart Neoplasms / complications*
  • Heart Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Paraganglioma / complications*
  • Paraganglioma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Ultrasonography