CLINICAL CASES   

Otorinolaringologia 1999 June;49(2):91-5

Copyright © 2000 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Asymptomatic vagal paraganglioma

Meloni F., Stomeo F., Bozzo C., Riu F.

Università degli Studi - Sassari Istituto di Oftalmologia, Otorinolaringoiatria e Urologia

Paragangliomas are rare neoplasms which embryologically originate from neural crest. Their site of origin can be different, being the jugular bulb for jugular paragangliomas, the bifurcation of common carotid artery for carotid paragangliomas, and the vagus nerve for vagal paragangliomas. The latter represent less than 10% of all these tumours and take origin from the nodose ganglion. The clinical presentation is often characterized by a cervical lump, slowly growing between the mandibule and the parapharyngeal space, with impairment of both superior and inferior laryngeal nerves and consequent dysphagia, especially for fluids, and dysphonia. Seldom in the literature have cases of vagal paraganglioma been described, with totally asymptomatic onset and thus only diagnosed by chance. A case of a patient admitted for different ENT pathology, whose diagnostic and instrumental pathway, which led to diagnose a vagal paraganglioma, together with the surgical treatment is reported.