Multiple paragangliomata of the lungs and temporal bone

We report the case of a 71-year-old woman with multiple benign lung paragangliomata and a benign glomus jugulare paraganglioma in one temporal bone that mimicked a malignancy. The patient's lung lesions did not regress with chemotherapy. Subsequent histologic markers suggested several very slowly dividing tumors. We review the patient's medical course and pathology from both sites. A finding of multiple lung paragangliomata should raise the suspicion of a multicentric rather than malignant tumor. Before any chemotherapeutic regimen is initiated, a thorough physical examination of the head and neck should be performed, and biopsy material should be tested for markers of cell division.