Paraganglioma in a teenage boy – A role for aggressive surgery

Abdominal paraganglioma belongs to the family of neuroendocrine tumor which is commonly located in the retroperitoneum in close proximity with other major vascular structures. In this article, we report our experience on the surgical removal of a highly vascular retroperitoneal paraganglioma that necessitated inferior vena cava reconstruction as well as a Whipple operation in a 15-year old boy. Both procedures are invasive and uncommonly performed in pediatric patients. Yet, these two procedures when combined together allowed complete en-bloc resection of the tumor. Lastly, the incorporation of pancreaticogastrostomy for reconstruction will also be discussed.