Neoplastic angina: a case report

A 54-year-old Caucasian woman, with a 1-year history of exertional angina was investigated by means of coronary angiography. On injection of contrast into both coronary arteries an unusual area of capillary blushing was seen around the point of a left main stem stenosis. At surgery a mass was seen arising from the area of the aortic root extending around the left main stem. Histology confirmed this to be an aortic paraganglioma. Three-vessel coronary artery bypass grafting was performed and at 6-month follow-up the patient remained symptom free.