Paraganglioma masquerading as acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock

Paragangliomas, extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas, are rare catecholamine-secreting tumor. A 34-year-old lady admitted with diagnosis of ST elevation acute myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock. Left ventricular function, severely depressed, returned to normal after initial stabilization. Coronary angiogram was normal. A para-aortic paraganglioma was diagnosed during the patient's work-up with biochemical studies, computed tomography of abdomen and functional radioisotopes imaging and was eventually surgically resected. This case shows that acute myocardial infarction may be the initial manifestation of these neuroendocrine tumors. Hypertensive emergency, much less elevated blood pressure may not be present at time of presentation.