Synchronous presentation of cardiac and abdominal paragangliomas.

A 28-year-old male presenting with a hypertensive crisis was found to have synchronous right atrial and retrocaval masses. Serum normetadrenaline was elevated in keeping with functional paragangliomas. After preoperative optimization both masses were successfully excised, including a saphenous vein graft to the right coronary artery. Serum catecholamines returned to the normal range postoperatively and all antihypertensive therapy was ceased. (Ann Thorac Surg 2012;93:e115-7) (c) 2012 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons