Resection of a branchiomeric paraganglioma at a rare extrapulmonary location

Thoracic paragangliomas are a rare cause of hypertension. We report the occurrence of a sporadic benign norepinephrine-producing branchiomeric paraganglioma in a 32-year-old man with paroxysms of hypertension. After localization by iodine 123–metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy and magnetic resonance imaging, the paraganglioma was resected successfully below the right pulmonary artery through a right-sided posterolateral thoracotomy. The particular location was consistent with a branchiomeric paraganglioma in an extremely rare extrapulmonary location.