Outcomes of surgery for functional cardiac paragangliomas: A single-center experience of 17 patients

Diagnosis, Genetics, and Management of 24 Patients With Cardiac Paragangliomas: Experience From a Single Center

Context

Paragangliomas located within the pericardium represent a rare yet challenging clinical situation.

Objective

The current analysis aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of cardiac paragangliomas, with emphasis on the diagnostic approach, genetic background, and multidisciplinary management.

Methods

Twenty-four patients diagnosed with cardiac paraganglioma (PGL) in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China, between 2003 and 2021 were identified. Clinical data was collected from medical record. Genetic screening and succinate dehydrogenase subunit B immunohistochemistry were performed in 22 patients.

Results

The median age at diagnosis was 38 years (range 11-51 years), 8 patients (33%) were females, and 4 (17%) had familial history. Hypertension and/or symptoms related to catecholamine secretion were present in 22 (92%) patients. Excess levels of catecholamines and/or metanephrines were detected in 22 (96%) of the 23 patients who have completed biochemical testing. Cardiac PGLs were localized with 131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy in 11/22 (50%), and 99mTc-hydrazinonicotinyl-tyr3-octreotide scintigraphy in 24/24 (100%) patients. Genetic testing identified germline SDHx mutations in 13/22 (59%) patients, while immunohistochemistry revealed succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) deficiency in tumors from 17/22 (77%) patients. All patients were managed by a multidisciplinary team through medical preparation, surgery, and follow-up. Twenty-three patients received surgical treatment and perioperative death occurred in 2 cases. Overall, 21 patients were alive at follow-up (median 7.0 years, range 0.6-18 years). Local recurrence or metastasis developed in 3 patients, all of whom had SDH-deficient tumors.

Conclusion

Cardiac PGLs can be diagnosed based on clinical manifestations, biochemical tests, and appropriate imaging studies. Genetic screening, multidisciplinary approach, and long-term follow-up are crucial in the management of this disease.

Diagnosis and Outcome of Cardiac Paragangliomas: A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study in China

Background: Cardiac paragangliomas (CPGLs) are rare neuroendocrine tumors that are easily overlooked and difficult to diagnose. Detailed comprehensive data regarding CPGL diagnosis and outcome are lacking.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 27 CPGL patients. This cohort represents the largest such cohort reported to date.

Results: The prevalence of trilogy symptoms (concurrent palpitations, hyperhidrosis, and headache) was frequent (9/27, 33.3%). Sensitivity of echocardiography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography for localization of CPGL were 81.8% and 87%, respectively. Octreotide scintigraphy showed 100% sensitivity for detecting GPCLs, while sensitivity of I¹³¹-metaiodoben-zylguanidine scintigraphy was only 32.9%. Multiple tumors were found in 29.6% of patients. Most CPGLs originated from the epicardium or root of the great vessels (92.9%) and were mostly supplied by the coronary arteries and their branches (95.7%). Twenty-four patients underwent surgical treatment. Although local invasion was present in 40.0% of patients, it did not affect long-term outcome. Mean follow-up was 6.9 ± 3.6 years. Biochemical remission was achieved in 85% of patients. The recurrence rate was 15%.

Conclusions: Manifestations of CPGLs are non-specific and they can be difficult to detect on imaging examinations. Octreotide scintigraphy should be performed in patients with suspected paragangliomas to screen for multiple lesions. Surgical resection of CPGLs can achieve symptom relief and biochemical remission.

Management of primary cardiac paraganglioma

OBJECTIVE

Cardiac paraganglioma is a rare tumor that most surgeons have limited experience treating. The objective of this study is to examine the management and outcomes for cardiac paraganglioma treatment when cared for by a multidisciplinary cardiac tumor team.

METHODS

We reviewed our institutionally approved cardiac tumor database from March 2004 to June 2020 for cardiac paraganglioma. These prospectively collected data were retrospectively reviewed. Patient characteristics were presented for individual patients and as summary statistics. Demographic and clinical data were also reported as median and interquartile range for continuous variables and frequencies and proportions for categoric variables. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to depict the patient survival from surgery.

RESULTS

There were 21 cases of primary cardiac paraganglioma, 19 of whom had surgical resection with 3 refusing offered surgery. Of 19 resected tumors, 13 originated from the left atrium and 6 originated from the roots of the pulmonary artery and the aorta. Complex procedures were required, including aortic and pulmonary root replacement and 8 autotransplants. All tumors had complete gross resection with no identifiable disease left behind, but 4 of these had microscopically positive margins. None of the patients had local recurrence of disease. There was 1 case of metastatic paraganglioma with death at 4 years postsurgery. Operative mortality was 10.6%. Survival from surgery was 88.2%, 71.8%, and 71.8% and 1, 5, and 10 years, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiac paraganglioma presents a surgical challenge. Mortality and long-term survival after surgical resection are acceptable but may require complex resection and reconstruction.

A SERIES OF TWO PATIENTS WITH CARDIAC PARAGANGLIOMAS

Objective

The objective of this report is to present 2 cases of cardiac paragangliomas (PGLs), and to outline the presentation, management, and associated genetic mutations.

Methods

Case 1, a 38-year-old female, presented with a 12-month history of paroxysmal palpitations, headaches, and weight loss. Her investigations included plasma free metanephrines and urinary metanephrines, 68-gallium DOTATATE positron emission tomography/computed tomography, and cardiac imaging. Case 2, a 28-year-old male, presented with a hypertensive crisis and abdominal pain on a background of hypertension. Given his abdominal pain, he was investigated with an abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan, followed by plasma free meta-nephrines and urinary metanephrines, echocardiogram, and 123-iodine meta-iodobenzylguanidine single-photon emission CT.

Results

Case 1 had an elevated plasma normetadrenaline of 6,750 pmol/L (reference range is <900 pmol/L) and 3-methoxytyramine of 1,845 pmol/L (reference range is <110 pmol/L). 68-gallium DOTATATE positron emission tomography/computed tomography showed an avid cardiac lesion. The lesion was resected, and histopathology confirmed PGL. Genetic studies revealed an SDHC gene mutation. For case 2, abdominal CT revealed a para-spinal mass. Workup for this lesion revealed elevated normetadrenaline of 56,000 pmol/L (reference range is <900 pmol/L). An echocardiogram, arranged for investigation of hypertension, showed an additional cardiac mass. A 123-iodine meta-iodobenzylguanidine single-photon emission CT scan confirmed that both masses were functioning. The lesions were successfully excised. He was found to have an SDHB gene mutation.

Conclusion

Both patients had long-standing symptoms secondary to catecholamine excess, thus it is important to promptly screen patients with unexplained hypertension or paroxysmal symptoms of palpitations, headaches, and diaphoresis with plasma free metanephrines or urinary metanephrines. All patients with PGLs should be offered genetic testing due to the high incidence of genetic mutations.