This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by
Maurie Markman, MD, President, Medicine & Science.
This page was reviewed on June 6, 2022.
A paraganglioma is a type of neuroendocrine tumor made of chromaffin cells, which produce hormones for the nervous system and release them into your blood. They are normally present in the adrenal glands and in clumps around nerve cells (ganglia).
Hormones are essential to everyday life. They regulate your breathing, metabolism, heart rate and other bodily functions. But when tumors secrete hormones, they can have effects throughout the body that are far greater than other tumors.
Paragangliomas typically start out as benign (not cancerous) tumors, but they can cause symptoms that may become life-threatening. Benign paragangliomas can also become cancerous later and spread to other parts of the body.
These tumors can develop either in the adrenal glands that sit on top of your kidneys (they’re called pheochromocytomas in this case) or outside of the adrenal glands (which is when they’re called paragangliomas).
Paragangliomas, also known as extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas, may be found all over the body, typically in the head, neck and torso.
Paragangliomas are rare—they occur in about two out of every 1 million people, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). They tend to show up between the ages of 30 and 50, though they sometimes develop in children.
Paragangliomas release hormones that activate your body’s fight-or-flight response. Called catecholamines, these hormones are usually released in response to stress. A paraganglioma can release these hormones at will, sometimes in large doses.
These hormones may lead to symptoms that include:
These symptoms may feel like you’re having a panic or anxiety attack.
These attacks, if they become severe, can cause a catecholamine crisis, which may result in a heart attack, stroke or severe high blood pressure.
Not all paragangliomas release hormones, meaning some are asymptomatic. Those that develop in the head and neck usually don’t release hormones, but if they grow big enough, they can obstruct swallowing, cause coughing or lead to hearing loss.
Other symptoms of paragangliomas include:
Some cases of paragangliomas are linked to genetics. These types of tumors are associated with some hereditary syndromes, including:
Mutations in more than 20 genes have been identified that may lead to an increased risk of developing pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas, according to the NCI.
If your paraganglioma isn’t associated with a hereditary syndrome, it’s considered nonsyndromic. Nonsyndromic paragangliomas are more common in women than in men.
If the paraganglioma is spreading to other parts of the body, it’s known as metastatic paraganglioma. About 35 percent to 50 percent of paragangliomas may spread throughout the body, according to the NCI.
In about 10 percent of cases, paragangliomas have already spread by the time they’re diagnosed, according to Seminars in Oncology. Metastasis is more likely for paragangliomas that are discovered outside of the adrenal glands and for those that are larger than 5 cm long.
Doctors use multiple blood and urine tests to detect the presence of paragangliomas. These tests will look for:
Your doctors will also likely use imaging tests to get a good idea of where the tumors are in the body and if you’re a candidate for removing them surgically. They may order magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a computed tomography (CT) scan or a positron emission tomography (PET) scan. They may also turn to specialized imaging that uses certain compounds to help highlight hidden paragangliomas.
They’ll likely recommend genetic testing to determine whether you have hereditary syndromes associated with paragangliomas. This can alert you to other symptoms and tumors to monitor. It may also lead to discussions with relatives about getting tested and any monitoring that may be recommended for them.
Depending on the features of your paraganglioma, your care team may suggest several different treatment options. If the paraganglioma is causing symptoms, they may be controlled with medications. For example, your doctor may prescribe alpha-blockers and beta-blockers to treat high blood pressure.
If the symptoms could become life-threatening, your care team is likely to suggest surgery to remove the tumor. Surgery can be risky because these tumors release hormones. If hormones get released during surgery, it could lead to complications. Usually, a strict medical regimen is implemented in the days and weeks leading up to surgery day to help prevent complications.
If surgery is successful, it should resolve the symptoms. If your tumor can’t be safely removed, radiation therapy may be used to help shrink it and relieve symptoms.
If the paraganglioma is not causing symptoms, your care team may recommend a “watch-and-wait” approach. Many paragangliomas grow very slowly, so doctors will check regularly to ensure that your condition hasn’t changed drastically. This is called watchful waiting.
A paraganglioma that has turned cancerous and metastasized is a challenge. Treatment options are limited. Your care team may try to treat metastatic paragangliomas by removing metastases surgically, giving chemotherapy to fight cancer, or using targeted radiotherapies to treat the paragangliomas.
After treatment for a paraganglioma, you’ll likely need yearly testing to check for elevated hormone levels from a recurrence.