Left atrial paraganglioma: diagnosis and surgical management

Cardiac paragangliomas are rare entities, that often remain asymptomatic. Complete surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment even if it can be difficult for the infiltration of the near mediastinal structures. We describe the case of a young man with hypertensive crisis, headache and diabetes, affected by cardiac paraganglioma, infiltrating the left atrial roof. The tumor was completely removed using cardiopulmonary bypass and the infiltrated portion of left atrial wall and the left superior pulmonary vein was excised and repaired with a pericardial patch. The patient was discharged without complications and currently enjoys good health.