Paraganglioma of the bile duct

We report the case of a 28-year-old woman with a 3-month history of right upper quadrant abdominal pain. Medical history and physical examination were unremarkable. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a dilated gallbladder, suggestive of gallstones, without bile duct dilatation. Serum chemistry values were normal. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was planned, and a mass encircling the common bile duct was found. The procedure was converted to an open operation, and cholecystectomy, mass excision, and hepaticojejunostomy were done. The specimen was interpreted as paraganglioma of the bile duct. There were no manifestations of catecholamine hypersecretion or signs of biliary obstruction. Six years later, the patient is asymptomatic without signs of recurrence. This is the third report of paraganglioma of the hepatic ducts. We describe the clinical and pathologic findings and therapeutic approach in this unusual case and review the literature.