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Multidisciplinary management of giant functional petrous bone paraganglioma

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Abstract

Giant and functional paragangliomas of the skull base are rare. Their endocrinological and surgical management is challenging. We report the case of an aggressive giant noradrenalin-secreting paraganglioma of the right temporal bone. Three procedures of embolisation were performed. The second one was complicated by a hypertensive crisis due to catecholamine release. The tumour was resected via a widened transcochlear approach. Tumour residue was treated by gamma knife radiosurgery, without additional growth at the last follow-up. This case illustrates the interest of multidisciplinary management of giant skull base paragangliomas.

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Conflicts of interest

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Hôpital La Timone, 264 rue Saint Pierre 13385 Marseille cedex 05, Marseille, France

    Thomas Graillon, Stéphane Fuentes, Philippe Metellus & Henry Dufour

  2. Department of Radiosurgery and Functional Stereotactic Neurosurgery, Hôpital La Timone, Marseille, France

    Jean Régis

  3. Department of Neuroradiology, Hôpital La Timone, Marseille, France

    Hervé Brunel

  4. Department of Neurosurgery, Hôpital Nord, Marseille, France

    Pierre-Hughes Roche

Authors
  1. Thomas Graillon
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  2. Stéphane Fuentes
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  3. Jean Régis
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  4. Philippe Metellus
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  5. Hervé Brunel
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  6. Pierre-Hughes Roche
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  7. Henry Dufour
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas Graillon.

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Comment

The article, even though not original in regard to the multidisciplinary treatment of temporal bone paraganglioma, is well conducted, giving an overall comprehensive evaluation of the correct management of such a disease. The authors reported of a single case with detailed information on the technique, results, advantages, and limitations of a multi-levelled approach, also referring to other different options. Their strategy resulted to be winning, and this has to be much more highlighted, considering the high rate of morbidity that burdens surgery of this area; indeed, they demonstrated skillfulness in complication prevention as well in their treatment.

Paolo Cappabianca

Napoli, Italy

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Graillon, T., Fuentes, S., Régis, J. et al. Multidisciplinary management of giant functional petrous bone paraganglioma. Acta Neurochir 153, 85–89 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-010-0818-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-010-0818-z

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