Key result
Surgical resection of functional cardiac paraganglioma normalizes metanephrines with durable tumor control at 18 months.
Why the study?
Cardiac paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors that cause morbidity via mass effect, embolic events, and catecholamine excess, warranting description of multidisciplinary management.
Case Report (n=1)
This case demonstrates that functional cardiac paragangliomas can present with cardioembolic stroke and can be safely managed with preoperative alpha-blockade followed by complete surgical resection.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May inform stroke-associated functional cardiac paraganglioma management; leaves open generalizability of surgical outcomes.
Cardiac paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) that may cause morbidity through mass effect, embolic events, and catecholamine excess. This case report describes a 52-year-old woman with a history of atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response presenting with ischemic stroke. Incidental imaging revealed an 8-cm prevascular mass abutting the left ventricle with regions of central necrosis. Urinary metanephrine testing was elevated, indicating a functional mass. Cu-64 DOTATATE PET/CT confirmed absence of distant metastases and increased radiotracer uptake along the rim of the mass, which supported the diagnosis of a NET. CT-guided percutaneous coaxial core needle biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of a paraganglioma. Upon resection, postoperative urinary metanephrine levels normalized. This report highlights the multidisciplinary approach to the management of a cardiac paraganglioma presenting after ischemic stroke.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Syed et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Cardiac paraganglioma and ischemic stroke (n=1). Surgical resection was evaluated on Normalization of urinary metanephrine levels and tumor control. Complete surgical resection of an incidentally discovered functional cardiac paraganglioma following an ischemic stroke resulted in normalization of urinary metanephrine levels and durable tumor control at 18 months.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: