What is malignant paraganglioma?
Paraganglioma is an abnormal, rapid cell growth that originates from chromaffin cells. Chromaffin cells are nerve cells that release neurohormones found throughout the body and help carry out important body functions such as regulating blood pressure. Malignant paraganglioma is cancerous and can spread to other distant parts of the body.Disease Causes
There is no well-known cause; however certain hereditary and genetic mutations are thought to be responsible for the development of malignant paraganglioma.Disease Epidemiology
Malignant paragangliomas are rare forms of cancer and can occur at any age, but the peak incidence of tumor development occurs in 30-50 years.Signs and symptoms
The patient may suffer from the following signs and symptoms. These are- High blood pressure
- Unusual rapid heartbeat
- Excessive sweating
- Headache
- Tremors (involuntary hands, arms, or leg movements)
Diagnosis
The following diagnostic techniques and procedures can be used to make a diagnosis. These are- CBC (Complete blood count)
- Complete urine examination
- Imaging diagnostic techniques such as X-Ray, CT scan, and PET scan can be used to detect the site, size, and extent of the tumor.
- Tumor Biopsy
- Immunohistochemistry